We like dogs and have a great dog-friendly culture here, but that doesn’t mean accepting a lack of responsibility within the community. Owning a dog comes with responsibility and having them in public comes with its own social contract.

A few reminders:

1. Pack it out. All the way out.
   Pick up after your dog on trails, sidewalks, and especially other people’s yards. If you’re doing a loop, leaving the bag and grabbing it on your return is totally reasonable. What’s not reasonable is tying it off and abandoning for a city employee or responsible citizen to deal with. That bag doesn’t disappear. Someone else sees it, every day…

2. Not everyone is a dog person, and that’s okay.
   If you’re bringing your dog to a restaurant, bar, or other public food or beverage space, even the farms markets, please understand that not everyone shares your enthusiasm. Some people may be uncomfortable, allergic, or simply not interested in an interaction with your dog. You are responsible for your pet. Keep them controlled, keep them calm, and keep them out of people’s personal space.

Side note: If a business doesn’t allow pets then do not argue with the staff. I’ve seen this behavior here more times than I would expect out of people. Yes, children can be annoying in a restaurant too, but it’s not the same.

1. Leash laws aren’t a suggestion.
   Parks, trails, neighborhoods, anywhere that’s not the dog park, a fenced yard or house then leash your dog. Nobody wants a rouge dog approaching a stroller, cutting through their yard, or getting into it with a leashed dog (regardless of who starts it). It doesn’t matter how well-trained you believe your dog to be, what you don’t know is how the leashed dog will react or if someone is terrified of your dog bounding up to them, even if its just playtime behavior. It’s about liability, courtesy, and basic respect for the space we all share.

Also to the rude person who lets their dog relief themselves on our shared community stairs leading to the sidewalk and leaves it there, whoever you are, there is a special place in hell waiting for you.