*Memorial Day Weekend *BASH* @ Findlay, OHIO Bark Park ~ *SUNDAY* MAY 27, 2007 ~

[Cinder & Smoke]

And They wonder why/how people get "confused" about their "policies"!

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

"NOTE - NEW THING AT THE DOG PARK --
THEY ARE NO LONGER SUPPLYING DOGGIE-BAGS"

"I asked Mr. Ranger, he said that what the parks dept. spent on bags last year
exceeded the total dogpark fees ... yeah.

I suspect what they did is to count the doggie bags at ALL the parks in the county
and lump them together into the Dogpark funds.
That, I might believe."
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I stewed about this for a while, then wrote an E-mail to Mr. Timmy (Full-time Director
of Hancock Parks) asking if it was true, and suggesting alternatives
(Sponsorship by PetSmart / WalMart, etc).

Got a 9:00 AM call from Margie S. (Admin Assistant/Office Manager) asking WHERE I got my info?
I just said "from a Local who asked a Ranger How Come the Baggie Bin was empty?"

HER side of the Story ...

* Shouldn't have been 'empty" - YET.
* WILL be empty by fall - they spend WAY too much on Biodegradable MittMutts!
* "NEW POLICY" has been discussed for "over a year" ...
* Marlyn (Pearlman - VIP from the Dog Park Volunteers) knows ALL about it
* Marlyn thinks we shudda done it a long time ago
...

"IT" (New Policy) is to install "Baggie Recycling Stations" in place of the
"expensive, commercial MuttMitt dispensers" ... and let folks bring all their
unwanted Plastic Grocery and WalMart bags to donate & re-use as Poopy Bags.

I listened as she rushed through her "presentation" (she's ALWAYS in a rush to hang up) ...
and she questioned HOW I could POSSIBLY be complaining about such a noble solution
the the World's Poop & Excess Baggie problems.

She had a hard time gripping the fact that Mr. Ranger "forgot" to mention
ANYTHING about the replacement of the current bags!

She mentioned "they" have been "telling everyone who comes in to renew their Permits
ALL About the New Baggie Policy" ... OK ...
A "note" on the Bulletin Board might be a good idea, too.

Sooooo ... just in case ...
Stuff a few of your Plastic Baggie Collection in da Bus and drag 'em along on
Findlay Visits ...
WHO Knows if/when the Pooh Bag Box will/won't have baggies!

Oh yeah ...
With "ALL the money" they're gonna "save" by using recycled baggies;
they can "make improvements to the Dog Park ... like the Inside Shelter
'some folks' have wanted."
Dunno if I can hold my breath that long.

Stay Tuned ... there will prolly be Changes & UppieDates.

[cyber-sibes]

HER side of the Story ...

* Shouldn't have been 'empty" - YET. ( surprise!)
* WILL be empty by fall - they spend WAY too much on Biodegradable MittMutts!
* "NEW POLICY" has been discussed for "over a year" ...

"IT" (New Policy) is to install "Baggie Recycling Stations" in place of the "expensive, commercial MuttMitt dispensers" ... and let folks bring all their unwanted Plastic Grocery and WalMart bags to donate & re-use as Poopy Bags.

She had a hard time gripping the fact that Mr. Ranger "forgot" to mention ANYTHING about the replacement of the current bags!

Bravo for you, Phred. I just gave up & figured I'm just gonna have to watch my step a little closer at the park! Note that she said "Mutt Mitts"... Perhaps it escaped their attention that we DO NOT have Mutt Mitts inside the dogpark! Those expensive Mutt Mitts are installed only on the walking trails in all of the Park Dist. parks. Inside the dogpark, we have cheapie thin brown bags that often tear open & must be the lowest quality they could find! (hence my opinion that they are using dog-park funds for non-dogpark expenses)

Mr. Ranger did mention that he was going to look into getting some kind of plastic container/holder that we could put our "donated" plastic bags into. Maybe they forgot to tell him about that part of the new policy too.

So keep an eye on where your footsies are gonna land...cause it could get ugly! Hmm, maybe that's why they did give us a hose this year! Maybe they should leave us a scrub-brush, too. Think I'll write em a note...

[Cinder & Smoke]

Note that she said "Mutt Mitts"...
Perhaps it escaped their attention that we DO NOT have Mutt Mitts inside the dogpark!
Those expensive Mutt Mitts are installed only on the walking trails in all of the Park Dist. parks.
Inside the dogpark, we have cheapie thin brown bags that often tear open & must be the lowest quality they could find! (hence my opinion that they are using dog-park funds for non-dogpark expenses)

Mr. Ranger did mention that he was going to look into getting some kind of plastic container/holder that we could put our "donated" plastic bags into. Maybe they forgot to tell him about that part of the new policy, too.

Maybe they should leave us a scrub-brush, too.
Think I'll write em a note...

OH, I caught the MuttMitt reference as SOON as she said it!
I doubt she's EVER stepped foot inside the DP ...
she just repeats what Mr. Timmy tells her to say when I call!

I was going to Argue the MuttMitt point with her by asking if DP Funds paid for ALL
the poop baggies in the District; but thought better of it ... you can't "argue"
with someone who doesn't appreciate the facts.

Nice to know Madame Marlyn is still in charge of Public Opinions ...
does she ever come out to the DP?

Careful with the Scrub-Brush request ...
they'll possibly think giving us a Push Mower is a good idea, too.

/s/ the Squeeky Wheel

[cyber-sibes]

Careful with the Scrub-Brush request ...
they'll possibly think giving us a Push Mower is a good idea, too.

/s/ the Squeeky Wheel

LOL! Alright Phred, now you've done it.

THE BAGS ARE BACK!

Yup, it's true, new rolls of bags were at the dogpark tonight. Talkin with some of the other locals, I guess you weren't the only one they heard from! Lucky's dad called recently, and most of us also complained about several of the changes when we picked up our passes.

BTW, whose Marilyn? (Just kidding, but I only saw her there once -- two summers ago. )

[Cinder & Smoke]

LOL! Alright Phred, now you've done it.

THE BAGS ARE BACK!

Yup, it's true, new rolls of bags were at the dogpark tonight.

This reads like a Grade B Soap Opera!

They TELL ya one thing; and a few hours later DO something completely different!

My Guess is ...
The Ranger/Maintenance Gang got ahead of themselves and decided NOW was the time
to "end" the Free Baggie giveaway and let the bags run out ...
But since the "replacement / recycling Bag Box" wasn't ready for prime time ...
Da Boys were told to refill the "old" Bag Box and return things to normal.
Question is: "How long will it last??"

Any signs of the Push Mower seen yet?

[cyber-sibes]

Any signs of the Push Mower seen yet?

No, but Sherman & Star are working on it. *munch*munch*munch*

[4 Dog Mother]

I find all this so interesting after all the hassle I have had to put up with over the years. Interesting about the bags. They have been threatening large fines for a period of time now - but without bags or warning of no bags how do they expect you to pick it up - no I would rather not think about that. And if they are telling those who come in to pick up their passes,what are the doing with the ones who register by mail? Shouldn't they be warned also?(Phred or anyone else who registered by mail receive a warning?) Marilyn is a very self serving person who dogsits and wants to take her dogsitting dogs there as well as her own. She usually comes out in the morning (or used to). As for the Margie, I know she has never been near the dog park. She has told me (when the gate was kept locked) that people would come and drop their dogs over the fence to run in the park. Now if she had been out there she would have known you would have to throw your dog over the fence and it better now weigh much because it is not a low fence. I am not sure how she thought those people got their dogs back.....

Mr. Timmy is on countdown to retirement....although I think he is still a couple of years away, it is never too soon to start. And as for story changes - well how many times have we seen that happen.

We still haven't got our passes yet - will have to do that very soon. I will be interested in seeing if they give me any news of any changes.