Minding Our Pees and Q's

Dear Dog Lady,

I read your previous column about dogs and baseball fields (see “Hot Dogs On Ball Fields” in Sniffing Around). I agree that children should have first dibs to the public ball fields, but have you noticed that no toilets are provided for the baseball players? The children are forced to follow the example of the dogs and pee in the park.

John, Portland, Maine

John, where’s the john? Dog Lady certainly doesn’t want this to become a pissing contest.

Some fields have public toilets nearby, but you’re correct to point out that the vast majority doesn’t have the conveniences. I suppose there is the silent understanding that if a kid’s gotta go, then it’s OK to duck and cover.

Let’s make clear the obvious -- “number two” isn’t “number one.” Watering the fields seems somehow part of the game.

Anyway, all of this is a matter of accountability and responsibility. Parents must ensure their children use the facilities before sending the kids off to play ball. A dog’s parents must ensure they clean up after allowing their animals to avail themselves of the public facilities. If there’s excrement left behind on a ball field, more often than not, it belongs to a dog.

On this pick-up issue, Dog Lady goes into extra innings. All dog owners should carry a few baggies when they take their dog to a public ball field and score points for batting clean-up after strike-out dog keepers leave their foul balls behind.

Posted by Dog Lady at April 21, 2003 01:43 PM