The AJC reports that the Norcross City Council voted on Monday to disallow pets in its city parks. Not even on a leash, not even with a fistful of plastic bags in your mitt (service animals excepted, however). According to the AJC, “The city has plans to erect signs alerting residents of the law and is still in the process of figuring out appropriate fines for the ordinance violations.”
No explanation here as to why the city would take such an action, but over on Norcross Patch, there’s an article suggesting that 1) this was already a law, but everybody ignored it, so while one city council member proposed changing the ordinance to go with the flow and allow pets, his proposal was voted down; 2) the main problem is poop-related; and 3) it’s probably unenforceable.
You can walk a well-behaved dog on a leash in a Decatur city park, as long as you clean up after it. My impression is that folks around here are pretty respectful of that rule. Is that your impression, too? And what do you reckon would happen if Decatur went the way of Norcross in the animals-in-parks department? Mass revolt?
Okay, go.
Who needs tight-knit communities that promote common courtesy when you can have laws like this?
I don’t know much about Norcross’ growth plans but, if you’re looking to encourage higher densities throughout or in certain parts of your city, public accommodations for pets is key. Pets are one of the main reasons people continue to cling to the need for a big yard because, many places, you either supply running space yourself or your dog is outta luck.
If you’re looking to use density to offer more affordable housing options or appeal to other market segments, banning pets from parks is about as counter productive as you can get.
Whatever. Banning things is the best solution to everything! Who wants to address deeper, systemic problems when you can just outlaw stuff?
Dogs pooping in my yard? Ban dogs from sidewalks! Bikes running stop signs? Ban bikes from intersections!
On a related note, wildlife in Norcross voted on Tuesday to disallow humans in its wooded areas.
Judging by the volume of discussion on FFAF related to inconsiderate pet owners, I thought it sounded like a big problem in Decatur.
Really?
It’s not a big problem in the parks here– just people’s yards. And yes, I think if the City tried to ban dogs in Decatur’s parks, there’d be a huge uproar. If there are two things people here are SERIOUS about, it’s their dogs & their kids (or dogs who are their “kids”)!
This about as enforceable as a ban on assholes, which is clearly what Norcross sorely needs.
When the kids start pooping in my yard, that’s when we’ll have some problems.
You jest, but this actually happened to me once. I kept seeing my neighbor cross my front yard with wads of paper towels, like she was in a big hurry–back and forth, back and forth–several times. So I finally went out to see what she was doing, and her almost-not-a-toddler-any-more had actually done the deed on my front steps. She was mortified, of course, but I thought it was hilarious. If it had been anyone else but them, though, I’m not so sure . . .
I wonder if all the Norcross dogs will get together and stage a poop-in.
+1
Instead of a ban, Decatur would do this http://abcnews.go.com/US/dog-dna-scooping-owners-fail-pick-pets/story?id=13965584