Posted April 28, 2005

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     There is enough fresh news around here to easily fill the pages of South Boston Online, your neighborhood weekly.  We don’t have to repeat ourselves, and we certainly don’t want to.  However, now and then we must.

     The behavior of the dogs in South Boston continues to be a problem.  We have editorialized on this before, but with the advent of good weather, it seems to be getting worse.

     Let’s be clear.  It is not the fault of the offending dogs.  They don’t know any better, and will do whatever their owners allow them to do.  South Boston is a crowded neighborhood, so dogs cannot be allowed to roam free.  The owner of any dog is entirely responsible for its training, leashing, and disciplining.  If a dog threatens the public or creates messes, then that dog should be taken away from its owner – for good.

     Our streets continue to be littered with dog droppings.  Once again, it is not the dog’s fault.  It is the owner’s responsibility to clean up after his or her dog.  The “Boston Shines” campaign will take place on May 6 and 7.  Wouldn’t it be nice if all residents resolved to clean up after their dogs by those dates?  Lifelong residents, who should be proud of South Boston, are just as guilty as newcomers or visitors from other communities.

     Even more disturbing are reports we’ve received about violent dogs.  Here are just two of the stories that have come into our office:  an unleashed dog was frightening children in Independence (M Street) Park early last week.  The owner, when asked to put the leash back on the dog, instead asked the children’s parents to take them to a fenced-in area, so the dog could continue to run around without a leash.  Incredible!

     Over the weekend, we were told that a Rottweiler bit a woman on Castle Island.  We don’t know the circumstances, and we are trying to confirm the incident, but does anyone think that the woman attacked the Rottweiler first?  As they say, “Give me a break.”

     Keep your dogs neat, clean, leashed, and restrained at all times this summer.  Your fellow residents in South Boston deserve no less from you.