Pet etiquette

To the editor:

Tonight my partner and I enjoyed dinner downtown on Massachusetts Street and then left for a stroll in the lovely evening air. Unfortunately, as is often the case these days, some dog owner had allowed their pet to defecate on the sidewalk and then left it for all to see, smell and potentially walk through.

I am a dog lover, and am aghast at the number of owners who feel that it is perfectly appropriate to leave their dogs’ droppings in a public walkway or in the nearby planter. While I understand that pet owners may occasionally be caught unaware, as a responsible pet owner, one should take the appropriate action in order to clean up any mess your pet has left.

While it is not the city’s responsibility to assist with this problem, it may behoove all of us if dispensers of plastic bags were placed on each corner downtown for those owners who don’t have one with them. These are common at dog parks, and I am sure could be installed at a nominal cost. I also am sure the public, shop owners and even pet owners would be pleased at the addition; and hopefully it would be a general reminder to owners to clean up after their pets!

Caitlin McDiarmid,

Lawrence