Vent...

[Andi20]

Some background info: We live in a busy neighbourhood so it’s not really possible for anyone to walk their dog off the leash so the only places we can let them run are the tennis courts or the schoolyard/playground (which are fenced). I used to go to the tennis courts because they are bigger and it also seemed a little bit more “public”. Well a couple of months ago someone from the city removed the doors from the courts. Our only other option was to go to the school. A couple of weeks after that, they put a sign that said “no dogs”. A few weeks after that, the sign came down.

Now the story: I was at the school with Xena playing fetch when one of the teachers comes out (even though they’re on holidays right now) and tells me “please remove your dog from this property”. Knowing that I was probably in the wrong I put Xena’s leash on and as we’re walking by the teacher and I get close enough to say something I ask “can I ask WHY?”. Her answer was that people with dogs leave messes and some people are afraid of dogs and the park wasn’t intended for dogs in the first place. This made me a little angry so I asked if she’s taken a look around to see what the KIDS from that school leave behind. I explained my dog does not drink pop, eat chips or completely trample the gardens of the neighbouring properties… perhaps when all of these issues are addressed, they can run around making comments about dog owners.

No offence to people with kids but I pay taxes WHY? I get almost nothing in return… people with kids receive a gazillion dollars a year (my educated guess) from the government while people with no kids aren’t even allowed to use the services intended for kids while they aren’t using them. Perhaps I should become afraid of children using the sidewalks I also contributed to… or become offended by the trash they leave behind and have THEM banned.

</vent>

Disclaimer: I’m completely aware that I contributed about 4 cents towards the construction of the school but that’s not the point!!

 

[gregory'sdad]

Contact City Counsel

I would suggest contacting your City Counsel or County Counsel. First, I would lodge a complaint about children littering in the local green spaces. Then, you need to lodge a complaint that there is no place for you to excercise your dog. Include information about how excersice is vital to maintain a dog's health and mental well being, and allows them to be calm, non-aggressive animals. Then, put together a grass roots petition requesting access to local green spaces. You would be surprised how many people would be willing to sign such petitions. I hope you can get some of the places opened up for you and your fellow dog owners.

 

[Kenosmom]

No offence to people with kids but I pay taxes WHY? I get almost nothing in return… people with kids receive a gazillion dollars a year (my educated guess) from the government [/SIZE]

Hmm...well I was with you all the way up to this part (about people with kids) and then you just totally lost me !!!! Sorry if I am maybe misunderstanding what you mean here, but I personally take offense to this comment because I happen to have two kids in the school system And I can promise you I definatly DO NOT receive gazillions of dollars from the gov't for them !!!! We pay our taxes and we also pay our childrens book rental & all of the other fees that go along with it every year...
I'm sorry that someone at the school didn't like the idea of your boxer running loose in the school yard, but how you can make such a comment about people with kids is just unreal ! :rolleyes:
I just wanted to make this comment and be done with it--I don't plan on making this a heated discussion...
(This is JMO)

 

[Andi20]

Hmm...well I was with you all the way up to this part (about people with kids) and then you just totally lost me !!!! Sorry if I am maybe misunderstanding what you mean here, but I personally take offense to this comment because I happen to have two kids in the school system And I can promise you I definatly DO NOT receive gazillions of dollars from the gov't for them !!!! We pay our taxes and we also pay our childrens book rental & all of the other fees that go along with it every year...
I'm sorry that someone at the school didn't like the idea of your boxer running loose in the school yard, but how you can make such a comment about people with kids is just unreal ! :rolleyes:
I just wanted to make this comment and be done with it--I don't plan on making this a heated discussion...
(This is JMO)

Sorry… what I meant by that was that children receive so much money from the (Ontario) government via teachers, school buses, crossing guards, vaccines, “baby bonuses” (money sent to parents of ALL kids in Ontario each month). These are things that people without kids don’t receive. I’m not against kids, I plan to have one myself one day but for now it just seems unfair and I was just venting.

 

[mthegodfathe]

Hopefully one day dogs will be treated alot better than they are now.

 

[Hs'ing Mom]

LOL! I wish I got a gazillion for my 3 kids! LOL! Although, I homeschool mine so I don't get a dime of government money. LOL! Oh well!

Maybe another dog owner was using the area too and not cleaning up after their dog. It only takes one person to mess it up for everyone else.

 

[Lovely Rita]

im sorry...

... but i still agree with Kenosmom. since you don't have kids, you probably don't understand how little money our schools actually get. seeing as im fifteen, i have had to put up with 30 year old textbooks, broken desks/chairs, dysfunctional lockers, etc. you have to understand that pretty much all of our school materials are purchased by our parents, so if you are spending a lot of money on my education, i sure don't know where its going.

now, i know that i have to look at both sides of this issue, and i absolutely agree that many children are badly behaved and do not respect nature and others property as they should. HOWEVER can you really say that when you were young, you put every single article of your garbage into the garbage can, you never ever did anything bad or wrong, you never disrespected another persons property? it is absolutely irrational to expect us to be perfect, when you know that you weren't. maybe you never did anything bad, and were a perfect angel throughout your childhood, but i know that other people in your generation weren't.

i also don't know what part of toronto you live in. i attend a very nice school in the uptown area, and i know that my high school has its share of rebels, but our school is very protected as opposed to a school right downtown. also, in my area as well as downtown there are many wonderful places to take your dog for walks, on leash and off leash. maybe if this issue bothers you so much, you should find somewhere else to walk your dog.

i'm extremely sorry if i have offended anyone with this post, as that is not what i set out to do. i get very passionate when it comes to stereotypes about children - i have suffered my share as i have purple hair and a nosering however, once everyone learns that you should not judge upon appearance, i guess we'll all be the better for it, eh? cheers to everyone!!

 

[Daisys_rjm]

... but i still agree with Kenosmom. since you don't have kids, you probably don't understand how little money our schools actually get.

Well I do have kids, and I do pay taxes, and the schools have plenty of MY money.

I don't want this post to turn into a socio-political post so I'm not going to comment on how tremendously inefficient our provincial government has become, and I will certainly not point out that the education system is certainly no exception.

But what I will comment on is the beautiful fenced yard of an elementary school here in Arnprior. This lovely piece of property is entirely surrounded by a 6' foot fence, with big signs every 10 - 20 feet saying "No dogs allowed!".

Despite what some people may believe, this school was built and is maintained entirely with MY money. Remember that government money is not a gift from heaven... it is YOUR tax money.

This school yard is a hang out for teenagers, who leave behind everything you might think a teenager would, therefore If the worst thing the children find in this the school yard is some doggy-do-do, I'd say that would be a good day!

When the school boards start paying taxes in Ontario they can post "No Dogs Allowed" signs.

randy and Daisy

 

[harleyboxer]

I completely understand the post saying that if you don't have kids you get jipped. It's not that it's a bad thing to pay for schooling, but that's a large chunk of money that we pay for and never get use of. I do think that dogs shouldn't be on the school property though. It wouldn't be nice for kids having gym class to step in dog poop and most people won't clean up after their dogs

 

[Hs'ing Mom]

I agree about stepping in dog poo! It only takes ONE person to NOT pick up the poo and then a small child stepping in it. ICK!

As for paying taxes, we should be PROUD that we pay them to keep the schools going. I can't believe the complaining......It's for the children, not the animals.