South Boston Online has editorialized before on the nuisance that dogs have become in our community.  By bringing the issue forward, we thought that most dog owners would get the message and restrain their dogs.  Unfortunately, this hasn’t worked.  At all!

    We haven’t taken a survey, but we believe about half of the dogs in South Boston are reasonably well behaved.  Their owners seem to care that their pets are not a burden on the rest of us.  The other half of South Boston’s dogs (and their owners as well) are bloody nuisances.

     A big part of the problem are the dog owners who let their animals relieve themselves on the sidewalks, and then fail to clean up after them.  This is nothing new – it has been a problem since South Boston Online started publishing several years ago.  Since more-or-less friendly reminders have had no effect, we recommend stricter enforcement.

     In world-class cities such as New York, London, and Paris, the fine for an owner whose dog fouls the streets is more than $100 for each offense.  Furthermore, if there are repeated offenses, animal control officials can take the dog away from its owner permanently.

     We think that all of those enforcement measures should become the practice in South Boston.  In addition, we think that the dog should be impounded until the offending dog owner performs ten hours of community service – cleaning up dog droppings elsewhere in the city.  After that, the owner must pay the kenneling fees for the dog before his or her pet is returned.

     But that’s not the only problem.  Many owners unleash their dogs in places like M Street Park, Dorchester Heights, Moakley Park, and the beaches – places where children play.  To the best of our knowledge, dogs must be leashed everywhere in South Boston – no exceptions anywhere, at any time of day or night.  It’s definitely a quality-of-life issue.

     Saying, “My dog is gentle”, or “He loves children”, is no excuse Even a friendly, playful dog can frighten a toddler – dogs don’t know any better, and they play rough.  Unleashed dogs should be impounded and the owners fined, just as if they fouled the streets.  Which, in a way, they do. 

We know you love your dog – it’s part of your family – but when it comes to choosing between quality-of-life for dogs and for children, dogs aren’t even a distant second.

     We have received Letters to the Editor saying that “dog runs” should be made available.  Well, Boston has very little land to spare.  The City can’t even afford to bring its police force up to the levels of ten years ago, despite a law mandating that.  So here’s what South Boston Online proposes instead:

Sharply increase dog licensing fees to $200 per year for each animal ($250 for pit bulls and dogs that aren’t neutered).  The current dog license fees range from a laughably low $6 up to $50.  Earmark $180 of that fee (only $15 per month) for funding dog runs.

    Simple, isn’t it?  Those who really want to keep dogs as pets in a crowded neighborhood like South Boston must be willing to pay for places where dogs can exercise.  And relieve themselves.  Money from fines can also be earmarked for dog runs, and the dog owners sentenced to community service can keep the dog runs clean.  Poetic justice.

     There’s plenty of precedent for this approach.  Look at how much a hunting license costs, most of which goes towards wildlife management.  Likewise, if your car is towed, you pay a fine, a towing fee, and the cost for storing the vehicle.

     Unfortunately for conscientious dog owners, we have to institute similar dog laws, fines, and controls.  Appealing to dog owners’ better natures hasn’t worked.  If you are a dog owner, ask yourself, “Have I always cleaned up my dog’s messes?  Have I ever let my dog run free in South Boston’s parks?”  If you answer those questions honestly, perhaps you’ll see where we’re coming from.