A Quick Pickup at Hinckley

I intended it to be a quick pickup. I have vacation this week so I figured - why not go to Hinckley and pick up before the snow flies? I have an hour or so. The snow started to come down and I trekked over to Hinckley. Scooby hadn't been there in a while and was happy to be back.

I was armed with my small garden digger for the stubborn poops, work gloves, a lot of old Hannaford bags and one of the BIG Christmas Tree Shop shopping bags, surely this would be enough. But it wasn't.

When it was all said and done I had in my possession:

• .50 cents in returnable bottles
• a steel stove top burner cover
• a broken plastic hubcap
• LOTS of candy and gum wrappers
• several cigarette packages and wrappers
• And two bags of poop. One was a Hanafford bag stuffed to the brim, the other was the BIG Christmas Tree Shop bag about 3/4 full. I had to stop filling it because I could no longer carry it.

The #1 most aggravating thing I found during my cleanup was about 15 bags of poop, all tied up and THROWN INTO THE TREES AND BRUSH. Believe it or not someone or some people actually pick up their poop in a bag then tie it up and throw it into the woods or leave it on the side of the trail. I used to walk at Hinckley every day and I would find at least one bag a day left by a person I affectionately nicknamed "The Poop Ghost". A woodland walker who is too good to carry their own bag of poop out of the park. I guess others will literally pick up after him or her. Amazing how rude some people can be.

I met a couple of people during my two hours of cleanup time. One woman offered to help with the group. Perfect! We have lots to do this spring! We want to keep access to Hinckley too! We have a city councilor who in the past has been very interested in restricting dogs to small portions of the park or banning them all together. I don't think people who walk at Hinckley know there really is a risk of losing the ability to walk our dogs off-leash in this wonderful park.

Many people walk at Hinckley to avoid the conflict at Willard Beach. Ironic since Hinckley park complaints come in as well as Willard complaints, especially about pet waste being left behind by irresponsible owners and dogs without owner supervision.

Please pass the word on to all Hinckley Park walkers, pick up and carry out - every time. And please bring an extra bag to help get a head start on spring cleaning.

-Crystal

The Best of Portland, 2010: SHARE Willard Beach Campaign

Help SoPoDOG increase the visibility of our group and encourage responsible dog ownership in SoPo. Please vote for the SHARE WILLARD BEACH CAMPAIGN as the best Portland "Local Cause" for 2010!

Click below and WRITE-IN:
SHARE Willard Beach Campaign

The Portland Phoenix, The Best of 2010

After you write in SHARE Willard Beach Campaign, you can vote for other categories, but make sure you click on:
1.) "View My Ballot" or "Skip To Finish"
2.) Enter your name and email address
3.) Under "Cast Your Vote" Click "Submit"

Vote every day!

Deadline for votes is: March 11.

Floppy Eared Dogs Needed

Help an animal care organization and your dog's picture may be in a book!

Author Kathy Brodsky is working on a book about dogs called: The Winner Is... She ran a contest to find a starring cat for her book Purrsnikitty. Now you and your dog have the chance to be in her newest book!

When you enter 3 photos of your floppy eared dog a minimum $5.00 donation to an animal care group is required.

Lucky Pup Rescue is asking for your donation to be directed to their group. When you sign up enter the following information for the donation:

Lucky Pup Rescue, Inc

132 Goose Rocks Rd

Kennebunkport ME 04046

You can also donate by paypal to this address: luckypuprescue@roadrunner.com

The funds will be forwarded to this local dog rescue organization.

There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit. CLICK HERE for more information.

The contest runs through February 28, 2010.

Good luck!
www.kathybrodsky.com

Cat killed by animal in Willard Neighborhood

You may have seen signs around Willard Beach and in Scratch Bakery for a missing cat, Bandit. Unfortunately Bandit's remains were found and he was most likely killed by a fox. This fall there were articles in the local papers about keeping cats inside to prevent them from being killed by fox.
Please spread the word that cats are being killed in South Portland and you may want to watch your small dogs too. Even large dogs can get into fights with animals who come into their territory so be careful.

Why bother with a leash?

It's almost spring and the complaints have started with calls to city councilors. The topic right now: owners who do not leash their dogs when walking on sidewalks, parking lots, and on the streets surrounding Willard Beach.

DOGS MUST BE ON LEASHES WHEN THEY ARE IN PARKING LOTS AND ON SIDEWALKS (also on the entire length of the Greenbelt Walkway).

When owners do not leash their dogs they are risking:

• Injury to their dog
• Injury to another dog
• Injury and / or aggravation to another person.
• THE LOSS OF PARK ACCESS FOR ALL OF US.

I will be contacting the Animal Control Officer asking him to patrol the Willard parking lot, Bug Light area and the Hinckley Parking lot so this can be better enforced. Sometimes a couple of citations can take care of an issue like this.

Spread the word.
Thank you!