No Dogs In Botanical Gardens Main Ring
Effective tomorrow [Feb 15], Botanical Gardens Main Ring will be closed to dogs, and dog handlers who fail to comply will be prosecuted in accordance with provisions of the Bermuda National Park Regulations 1988.
The Department of Parks said “several handlers and owners have failed to collect or have blatantly refused to collect their dogs’ waste, even after being instructed to do so by employees of the Department of Parks.” The Department went on to say that employees have had their clothes and body parts contaminated with the waste during the operation of equipment such as lawn mowers, and have had their hands soiled during weeding and planting.
The full statement from the Department of Parks is below:
The Bermuda Botanical Gardens and the Arboretum have been experiencing serious problems with respect to dog handlers and owners who have been using the grounds to exercise their dogs. These beautiful facilities have been opened as a privilege for the owners and handlers to have their dogs on site, while in other jurisdictions the practice is usually forbidden in similar facilities.
The Department of Parks and one of the Island’s Dog Clubs have invested significantly in providing signs, manpower and Dogipots for handlers and owners to facilitate proper disposal of dog waste.
Unfortunately, in the Main Ring and other grass locations about the Botanical Gardens, several handlers and owners have failed to collect or have blatantly refused to collect their dogs’ waste, even after being instructed to do so by employees of the Department of Parks.
Some of these handlers and owners have also been abusive and disrespectful towards staff who have been giving them direction on the privilege and proper etiquette when having animals in the facilities.
Members of the general public have also disregarded signs informing them of closure for specific areas.Employees have had their clothes and body parts contaminated with the waste during the operation of equipment such as lawn mowers. In addition, the problem has been compounded where dogs have defecated in flower beds and staff members have had their hands soiled during weeding and planting.
Therefore, with effect from Tuesday, 15th February 2011 the Main Ring at Botanical Gardens will be CLOSED to dogs. The Department of Parks requests compliance with this order.
Dog handlers and owners who fail to comply will be prosecuted in accordance with provisions of the Bermuda National Park Regulations 1988.
Please contact the Curator of Botanical Gardens and Arboretum, telephone 236-5902 or email: jamesr4@aol.com, should further information be required.
Self-entitled, dopey Bermudians. This is why we can’t have nice things.
A few bad dog owners ruin it for the rest of the responsible ones! No likes to do it but you should – imagine if it was law everywhere like in some cities.
This is SUCH a shame for all responsible dog owners who never fail to clean up after their pets. A few irresponsible and inconsiderate people have now spoiled the use of this wonderful facility for everyone. No more ‘playdates’ for happy puppies in a secured arena….
So sad! Now my poor doggie has to loose out for a few inconsiderate people. SMDH. The botanical gardens even provided you with the bags!!! If you aren’t willing to clean up after your dog then maybe you should have one. My dog would like to thank you for having one of the places she CAN go and have fun taken away from her. It’s not like she has many options in the first place.
Go to Italy, people dont pick up their dogs waste in the City and it smells like poopoo. Dog crap on the sidewalk every 5 feet..
So what is your point???? If the Italians accept that dirt than that’s their business!!! we are not talking about Italy we are talking about Bermuda and it is unacceptable..so therefore a few have spoiled it for the majority..if you’ve been given a bag to put YOUR dogs “poo” in it than by all means do so..why would you expect someone else to come along and scrap up your S*&T???
There’s always rotten apples in the barrel!!! such a shame!!!!! Hope they’re the ones reading the comments!!! such a disappointment!
So many people take their dogs there. THE best exercise for them. The regulars always keep it clean. So sad it’s another one of those situations where the select few ruin it for all. I’d love to know the actual stories of dog owners being disrespectful to the BG staff…I know it happened the other way around in a BAD way! Gov should provide us with a dog ring somewhere. The island needs it desperately.
I would like to remind the Department that they are not extending a ‘privilege’ to dog owners. This rink, this land, this park belongs to them as taxpayers and not the Department. As custodians only the Department may make policies to facilitate the management of the facility, and in doing so can require that dog owners pick up. Getting personal and childish -this is not school and you are not our teachers- is not the answer. If some owners are not cleaning up then they should be ticketed. The facility should remain open, as it was intended to be and for which we pay taxes.
This response is the typical Bermuda one: let’s take a more modern approach to work this through.
Joe,
Perhaps you can be trained to be the Dog Sh-t Sniffer and help to identify the culprits when the staff have left E & F.
What type of collar would fit you.
Joe,
You simply don’t understand. We all work for, and serve, the government. Not the other way around. We prosper and enjoy life due to the government’s benificence. Once you understand this, everything will be clearer for you.
This is a well thought-out response and I agree!
I agree with Karen Franklin and Not Surprised.
The should make a law here like they have in Halifax. If your dog makes his business on the street you pick it up or get a ticket. I would hate to go take a walk and then all of a sudden step in dog doo doo. You pick it up if the dog does it in your house so why not anywhere else? Unappreciative pricks ruining things for others. Maybe if the parks would get a security gaurd then they could reopen the park to dogs (light bulb moment), just a thought.
Speaking about dog owners not picking up their dogs mess… I would really appreciate it if the person who brings their dog down to West Whale Bay Park in Southampton (the dog must be the size of a small horse going by the size of the poo!) would tidy up the mess their dog makes. I have small children and as you can imagine dog dirt and small children dont mix. Thanks alot!
Good now the rest of us can enjoy Botanical garden without stepping in or smelling dog $hit !!!! Great move
I dont buy the justification of why the ring is closed to dogs. I wont challenge that there are lousy, disrespectful dog owners and handlers who take advantge of the Botanical garden ring. However, this response is way over the top.
I’m sure you could get (myself included) volunteers – who also respectfully takes advantage of the ring – to clean up before and ensure the park meets Health and Safety standards set by your grounds crew. A schedule could be worked out and the dog owners ‘committee’ could easily chip is some cash for bags, scooper etc. Its important to us and our dogs.
I would have like there to be some type of discussion, solution-quest and agreements to manage such a SIMPLE problem.
Please rethink your decision and engage the dog owners/handlers who use and respect your park.
See mine above.
The Bermudian approach is to say ‘no’. The modern approach is to ask ‘how?’. That is how modern societies deal with these issues, and resolve them. A dictate from a staffer in a government department, who really does not have the right to close parkland off to people with or without dogs, is not the way forward.
@ Joe
Agreed. Now whats our recourse? I think the core dog owners/handlers who do responsibly enjoy the ring should do something about this decision.
Anyone else agree?
As a dog owner who actually DOES pick up their dogs sheet with a poo-poo bag, I do get angry when I have to watch out for other peoples dogs crap on the grounds. From the size of the poo thats left they range from small to large dogs. The first thing I do when I go to the parks is grab 2 bags and walk a route that will take us past a waste container. I support Parks for taking this stand and wish the Park Rangers could ticket people who actually catch people not cleaning up after their dogs.(also wish people with big dogs kept them on leashes as well…no matter how much they think their dogs obey)
We used to frequent the ring and i can say, from our experiences, that all of the “regulars” that we know by name/dog name were very responsible and cared for the ring as if it were their own backyard.
As you’ve said Joe, the Bermudian approach of “no” is just not acceptable. There has to be a better solution. I wish that government would either involve us in the solution and/or reprimand those who don’t follow the rules (by issuing tickets) instead of just saying “no” dont come back, with no warning whatsoever.
Socialising dogs in an off-leash environment is not only great for the dogs, creating well-balanced pets/animals, but it is also good for the community. It teaches us how to responsibly take care of our dogs and for the children that come to the park and see what goes on in the Ring, it shows them that dogs aren’t scary or mean no matter how big or small – a fear that a lot of Bermudians (not just children) have.
I know that my furry friend will miss his other doggie friends and that opportunity to exercise and play will be missed by us both.
Thanks for the lack of warning Government, and for involving us in the solution.
Typical problem solving of a Government department. Just say NO.
On the other side I think it is the responsibility of dog owners to police themselves. There must be a park ranger, or Bermuda equivilant, overseeing the parkland. Owners need to be prepared to give a name or, at least, a vehicle number linking dog to owner & also be prepared to go to court if the offense gets that far.
I spend alot of time in US State Parks, County Parks & campgrounds in the US & Canada. It is rare to find dog poop on the ground. Owners are very responsible. Fines are heavy & enforced.
Far too many Bermuda dog owners are messy lazy people who feel that their dogs are as entitled as they are. It is OK for them to poop anywhere & leave it there.
I once had a neighbour who thought it just fine for her dog to poop in my front yard everyday. So she thought until I warned her that I would start bringing my babys diapers down to her house & emptying them in her yard. The dog poop problem ended imediately.
At last – now our children can enjoy the park without us having to worry about them stepping in dog crap the whole time