All About the Stinky Stuff

It is nearing that time of year again when everything starts to melt, and all of the unmeltable items that have built up over the winter begin to surface and… well, smell. Yes, I am referring to dog doo, the ever-annoying substance that seems to be causing lots of dialogue within the local area lately. It seems as though many of the public walking trails within the Lewiston/Auburn community have been littered with the stuff, and now that the snow has almost completely melted, the poo has risen. Understandably so, people are very upset. No one wants to have to clean up another dog’s stench, and no one should even have to smell, step in, or look at it. Apparently, people have not been picking up after their dogs, and it has become such a problem that city officials are considering closing some of these areas down to dogs.

Unfortunately, there are many responsible dog owners who DO clean up after their dogs who will all be penalized for other’s actions if this happens. This makes this an important issue for everyone who uses the trails. This also makes for an important issue for our entire community; non-dog lovers included. Why? It’s important for many reasons. If these trails are closed down to dogs, less people will have reasons to travel to our lovely community. It is also a factor that could make owning a dog unfavorable for some, if they don’t have a recreational area to take their dogs. This works against our efforts to place more adoptable dogs in good homes for obvious reasons. For every wonderful member of the dog-loving community, it sometimes feels like there are 5 people who will disagree. We don’t need any more strikes against us!

Dog poop is a large part of owning a dog. It’s no ones favorite part, but it is a part, and people need to understand that when they decide to have a dog. I am currently the guardian of 3 very large dogs. Whenever we go outside, their activities are supervised. If I can juggle 3 large dogs with 3 leashes, and still pick up 3 (or more) poops, and carry all of them home, then I really don’t see any excuse for not picking up after a dog other than laziness. It does not matter if it is “off to the side of the trail”, pick it up. Carry poop bags with you wherever you go. Think of it like having a baby. You have to pack diapers for that baby, don’t you? It’s the same thing! Not to mention it is unhealthy for everyone to to be inhaling the fumes from dog waste. Anyone who owns a dog also know that some dogs actually have a certain "stink-tooth" for the smelly stuff, and no one wants their dog hauling them down a trail at 90 miles per hour just so they can get a whiff of another dogs brew. It's just not fun for anyone.

The point that I am trying to make is that every member of the dog community has a responsibility to protect our image. It makes things easier for us in the long run, and it will help us gain more benefits in the future. By skipping the step of not picking up after their dog, these guilty parties are just making more work and hardship for all of us than they are actually saving themselves.

How do we solve this problem and get it through people’s heads how important it is to pick up after their dog? The city has considered signs, and/or “clean up stands”. They have imposed a fine for anyone they happen to catch in the act. Pack Life has planned an “April Stools Day” cleanup event for April 3rd (more info. to come!) to help clean the area. This will make it nice, but how do we keep the area looking (and smelling) beautifully? What things are done in your community to ensure people clean up after their pooches? What worked? What didn’t? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as we would like to keep Androscoggin County a dog friendly community.

Thanks for your input!

Humans or Animals... That is the Question

In the wake of the horrifying devastation in Haiti, a question of morals that is all too commonly asked is again being brought to light, perhaps more prevalently than ever before. It is a question that I have been asked many, many times, and one that I never really know how to answer. I am a person who has, since I began volunteering, thought that I was always doing a good thing. I feel that what I do for animals is more than I could do for the world than by just sitting around, so I believe that what I am doing and where I am focusing my efforts is beneficial. The more I have immersed myself in this world, the more questioning I have heard from others (who I have to assume don’t really care about animals) about why I support the rescue of animals when there are so many human beings dying and suffering in our world. I feel that every time I come in contact with this question, or this “conviction of betrayal” I feel that it is being used as a defense for people who are unable or unwilling to do more themselves. I honestly do not understand why someone who is clearly doing something good for another living thing should be questioned about his or her antics.
I believe that we can create a better world for both animals and humans alike through humane treatment of animals, and programs that promote human to animal relationships.
Recently, Friends of Animals sent a letter to Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir confronting him about the white fox fur that he had specifically added to one of his costumes. He added the fur to the costume that he personally designed and stated that he thought it “looked pretty”. When Friends of Animals confronted Mr. Weir, he came back stating that he “totally gets the dirtiness of the fur industry and how terrible it is to animals. But it’s not something that’s the No. 1 priority in my life”. Weir went on to state “There are humans dying everyday. There are thousands if not millions of homeless people in New York City. Look at what just happened in Haiti. I tend to focus my energy, if there is a cause, on humans. While that may be callous and bad of me, it’s my choice”. Personally, I feel that it is his choice to support whatever cause he believes in, however, I don’t feel it necessary to outright support an act that you know is horrific just because you don’t choose to advocate for this group. My real point of this story is to show how this person is using what some people are passionate about as a defense. Just because you don’t support animal rights does not give you the right to support the mutilation and murdering of animals for fashion. And just because someone supports animal rights does not mean that they don’t support the human race. We all focus our efforts and our money where we see it is going to make the most difference in the lives of the things we care about. We all do what we think is best, and I personally will not criticize someone for doing what they think is right. I would strongly encourage everyone to thoroughly research ANY organization that you are considering supporting.
I don’t think that it is about putting humans first, or putting animals first, but it is about everyone doing their part. Some people are skilled in and dedicated to disaster relief for animals, while some, are dedicated to humans.
We can all watch the horrifying videos on TV, but unless we are actually there, we will never be able to imagine the mass devastation that was caused by this natural disaster. By supporting rescue efforts for animals, we are not being unsupportive of human rescue, but rather focusing our efforts into something that is very important to us. We are not “turning the other cheek” to our fellow humans by supporting the rescue of those who cannot support themselves. I think that many people think that by rescuing the animals, we are denying the people who need savior as well, and that is not the case. In many cases, if these rescue groups were not there rescuing animals, what are the chances that they would be there rescuing humans? Many of the people and organizations that are supporting the rescue of the animals in Haiti are also supportive of the rescue efforts provided by groups such as the American Red Cross. I personally know people who have made donations to both types of organizations. That is a personal choice that should be respected.
There is also a lot to be said about creating a humane nation through animal advocacy, because it is a proven fact that a humane community is a safer and healthier community. Both of these issues and these groups go hand in hand in regards to creating a better world.