Clearing Sidewalks/Cleaning up after your Dog

This is my venting day. I have to get this off my chest with these two issues:

# 1. Isn't it a Loudoun County law that all sidewalks need to be shoveled after a snowfall? I'm a daily walker and with the recent snow of 3-4 inches...I have found that some people just don't shovel their walks! Granted - we didn't get a big snow and maybe they figured the sun would melt it - but when you walk at night - guess what? It freezes! I took a nasty spill in front on someone's house the other night and it was because they didn't shovel the snow that was there. Fortunately - I didn't hurt myself - but I was darned angry!

#2 - I find it horrible that people still don't clean up after their dogs. On my walk over the weekend - I found so much poop around - it was disgusting. [xx(] What is wrong with people? It's great that Broadlands puts out those Mits to use along with the trash containers, there's no excuses - but some people still ignore them. BTW - I might add - I am a dog owner as well and I DO clean up after my dog. I just can't believe people totally ignore it. Is it laziness or just shear ignorance of the rules?

 

#1 - yes ... they have 6 hours after a snowfall if it falls at night. I had the same problem, trouble is, I didn't get home until after dark, and the sidewalk had already frozen up. All I could do was spread ice melt, and hope for the best.

#2 - I also agree ... some dog owners are disgusting. I would approach someone who let their dog defecate and not pick up the leavings, and let them know about their disregard for the rest of the homeowners here in Broadlands.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Maybe that law about the snow removal should go out in the newsletter. I do believe that you can have the police come out and there is a fine if you don't clean it up. I just doubt the police would actually come out and write a ticket for it...

Making it up the hill the other day was very tricky. Several places had turned into a sheet of ice. Luckily my dog had footing and dragged me up it as I was sliding around. People really do need to keep them clear.

I too have seen the mounds of dog poop. Every single one my dog goes for (don't ask). It makes taking him for a walk a test of my arm muscles. I found these great disposable pooper scoopers for dog walkers at petsmart. They are these cardboard handles with plastic bags attached that can scoop up the poop without ever getting to close to it. And they are pretty cheap too. Work like a charm. They even have telescoping handles for them if even bending down is to much work for some people. I'd venture to guess that the fact that there is so much dog poop around goes hand in hand with the elitist attitude that some people in this area have...

 

I would just discuss it with your neighbor. The cops have many other more important things to deal with than your neighbors icy sidewalk.

 

what about the sidewalk on Ridgeway, in front of Mill Run Elementary? Who is responsible for that area? Just curious because it wasn't done this past week.

 

I was mearly making the point that there is a law and a fine

 

I have four dogs and walk up to three of them at a time and always pick up after them, even if they go in an area of bushes or trees away from the sidewalk. Mine eat a high fiber diet so they go up to two or three times on a walk each so if I can manage to pick up after all of mine anyone should be able to. I see people all the time letting their dog go wherever he/she might feel like it and then not cleaning up after them. I also am very careful to have them avoid people's lawns and not urinate there so they don't kill the grass. I have all kinds of piles of dog stuff in my front yard along the street that people never clean up.

 

Our front yard doesn't have a sidewalk in front - but that doesn't stop people from letting their dogs go. Our house backs to the walking path and as I stand at my kitchen sink - I see people let their dogs go without picking it up - maybe their thinking is that it's a walking path thru the woods, I don't know. I was able to catch someone not picking up their dog poop and ran out on my deck to tell them and their answer was that they didn't have a bag with them and would be sure to come back. Well - you know the answer - the didn't.

 

I had a similar confrontation on the corner of my yard. I told him to take off his shoe and use his sock. Then maybe next time he wouldnt forget. I was so mad at his answer to me, I almost went out, picked it up with my bare hands, grab his bare hand and put it in there and tell him ... " I bet you wont forget a bag next time will you....."
These people are ignorant. I too have 2 dogs and always clean up, and even make sure that if they do it, that they not even drop it on someone's yard....thats how sensitive I am too about it.

DwArFlOrD

 

OK. Take a small brown paper bag and some matches.... but you have to know where the offender lives....

 

If I had my druthers (thinking out loud here):

I'd take pictures ... then perhaps the tech committee could create a webpage entitled: "Walk of Shame", and we'd display the pictures. Talk about throwing the dirt back at them !!



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Great idea! But we shouldn't call it the "Walk of Shame." Where I come from, that term has a whole other meaning. Some unknowing folks might see pictures of people on the "Walk of Shame" and think about that "whole other meaning." We don't want rumors to get started!!