Black Sabbath wrote in again:
“There is nothing to prevent park users, whether they have dogs or not, from contributing to the upkeep of parks. We have donated trees, park benches, and even doggy mutt mitts to our local on leash (ha ha)park despite the fact we have no dog. Anything which dog owners want for off leash areas or other parks can be a tax deductible gift. It is unfair to expect doggy water fountains, grass reseeding, and other costly items to be debited from an entire park budget. We all know that rec centers have limited hours due to the current budget. I also think the Torrey Highlands group should be praised for their efforts. The nasty tones that some dog owners take when they illegally off leash or contribute to a debate like the one about Fiesta Island is a real turn off. A “pay as you whine” system works best.”
Thanks for participating today. You seem to be the only one bringing a little zing to the conversation!
My response to your comment is that if you choose to live in a metropolitan area, you have to accept the fact that your tax dollars are going to support activities and areas that you do not use (and may not even like). Dog ownership is increasing, the county estimates that there are 700,000 dogs that need to be walked, fed, bathed, trained, exercised, etc. Ignoring or not providing for this portion of the population is ridiculous.
I take offense when you call this kind of dialogue whining, I pay just as many taxes as you do and I feel my needs should be considered equally.
Also, the cost to re-seed a field or put in a doggie drinking fountain are miniscule in comparison to some of the other “special needs” populations. Just as a reference point, the Nate Point dog park project that has recently been finished cost approximately $100,000 and $65,000 of that was for ADA (American with Disability Act) improvements.
But did you hear us complain? Did we get any donations for disabled oriented organizations… No.
Instead of dividing the community by who deserves what, try supporting your neighbors and you might be surprised that they will return the favor.
— PAULA LYNN