Muddy is as Muddy Does

Posted by Dave Klamet November 22, 2009 at 7:19 p.m.

Here is a pictures of my son's dog Luke, an Australian Sheperd.

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I was never what I would call a "dog person", but I've had a good time taking Luke to the dog park east of Clinton Lake damn. There are a lot of nice, polite people and there are really very few problems with unruly dogs. My experience is that you can feel comfortable taking your dog and let him (or her) socialize with other dogs, there. You'll meet a variety of people and dogs.

Maybe it is just my personality. Maybe I'm just the kind of person who is never happy, but I have a complaint.

Now I've spent a fair amount of time teaching Luke to catch a frisbee, and sometimes he can be quite acrobatic in his antics. But when we go to the park, he's much too interested in the other dogs to pay much attention to me and the frisbee. It would be great to impress everyone with his frisbee catching skill, but that's OK. He has a really good time, and the happiness I get from his eagerness as we get near the park on our trips is much better than a vain display meant only to impress others.

So that's not the problem. I look at it as a lesson in dealing with my own vanity.

If you look at Luke's paws and chest, you'll notice that they're white. Now, that isn't the problem, either, but it does accentuate the problem that I, and I think other dog owners, experience at the park.

Here's another picture of Luke at the park. Maybe you'll start to get the idea when you see it.

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People are always considerate to keep that pan full so the dogs can get a drink. Maybe I shouldn't complain (but then, I wouldn't be me, now, would I?), but I usually have to wipe Luke down before he gets in my car, then hose him off when we get home.

Now I wouldn't mind this so much, except that I think that it need not be.

Here is one last picture that will illustrate why the area around the water spigot is such a muddy mess. I've blurred out the particular young person this time. He's doing nothing that (almost) everyone else doesn't do.

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Now I should note that the mess used to be much bigger, extending for 20-30 feet from the spigot. The Lawrence Parks and Rec department were very responsive to an email, and within a week had spread a large amount of wood mulch that reduced the mess considerably. The spigot still squirts water out of two places. Perhaps it needs to be fixed, but that's not the problem I see, either.

Even with the funky spigot, all it would take is for people to pick up the pan and fill it without spraying water all over.

Is that too much to ask?

Does there need to be a sign asking people to have a care when they get water for their dogs? Or is this something common sense and courtesy should dictate?

I'm not going to blame this on the LP&R. I think the park is, otherwise, well-maintained and I think that no matter what they do, if water is available, people will make a mess.

Is asking for common sense and courtesy too much?

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artichokeheart (anonymous) says…

I don't know how to address the issue of common courtesy but a secure elevated surface with drainage would help. They could cover the secured surface around the water source with those rubber mats that have holes so the water drains down. May not be a pefect solution but it would cut down on the mud dogs and their people come in contact with.
November 22, 2009 at 7:42 p.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

This morning, as I lay sleeping, a cold wet nose gently brushed against my elbow. My right elbow, the one that generally hangs over the right side of the bed. Now, if it had been my left elbow I would have known it was snuggle time and the little woman was hinting at such. But no. I knew it was time to venture out in the pre-dawn so little Betsie could relieve herself in the wet grass. Sleepily I threw on enough clothing to keep from being arrested should the sheriff's patrol car happen by. Once out in the yard, as I contemplated how many hours of my past, and how many hours of my future could be spent watching dogs relieve themselves, it hit me. I needed to "go" also! Now it was dark out, the dog seemed in no hurry, so I thought,"Why not!", and proceeded to.... well you get the picture...

Betsie being on a 25 foot retractable leash, at that moment spotted movement in the neighbors tree line. Behind me. As she ran past me I yelled for her to stop, which she usually will do. This time she instead ran back to what she was doing, in the process circling around me. Still busy with what I was doing. Now with a nylon rope around me. Staggering to remain in a standing position. With the headlights of an approaching car coming around the corner. No, it wasn't the sheriffs patrol, and by the time it drove past Betsie and I we were both, umm..... walking back to the house. I just don't know how many more hours of this I have in me...
November 22, 2009 at 8:16 p.m.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…

Great one, Roe, and this is the first time I read it.
Those of us with animals will always have stories to tell.
I think they should put a concrete slab all around the faucet for about six feet out in all directions. Then they could have recessed areas in all four sides that would serve as water bowls.
A fountain that recycles the water would be even better.
November 23, 2009 at 12:17 p.m.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…

There are operating instructions attached to that spigot that apparently no one reads. There is a brass collar on the lower nozzle that when pulled down shuts off the flow there, directing all the water out of the upper nozzle to flow into the pan. It'll still be messy, but a lot less so.
November 23, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…

"A fountain that recycles the water would be even better."

No, it needs to be fresh, clean water to keep parasites to a minimum.
November 23, 2009 at 6:12 p.m.