An unhappy Beacon Hill resident posted a nasty sign directed at dog owners, asking them to essentially curb their dogs.
The sign read, “Please respect our home, do not let your dog (expletive) on our flowers.” A parent posted it to the city’s 311 complaint board calling it “illegal graffiti” because they found it inappropriate, “I had to explain what the word “(expletive)” meant to my twin daughters while we were walking to the car. This is gross and offensive.”
I understand the parent’s concern and frustration regarding a homeowner’s decision to use crass language.
However, as someone who lives in the South End in a street level unit I can sympathize with the homeowner. Nearly every wrought iron fence on my street is rotting to some degree because dogs pee on them. The urine is ruining the fences, which are astronomical to replace or repair.
Just try to address it with a dog walker or dog owner and you will get your head ripped off. Why is it OK for them to pee on private property? Do they want to help pay to repair the fence?
The homeowner may want to rephrase the sign for kids’ sake and for their posh neighbors. Maybe they could use one of a variety of gentler words with the same message. That sign seems very much to the point. However, I have witnessed on countless occasions dogs actually peeing on the sign.
Someone took down four snarky signs that South End resident Marty Dykas posted last year. One read, “If your dog (expletive) on our fence, then we (expletive) on your fence. Got it?”
“What does it mean that people are so upset over a sign that they will rip it down but don’t turn a head when someone’s property is being urinated on? And the sign wasn’t a joke — I was ready to return the favor,” Dykas said.
On the Facebook page “East Boston Open Discussion,” Julie Powers wrote, “I own my property and all the dogs pee on my house, which makes my house fall apart. It eats the foundation. I have to redo the front every other year.”
David D’Amelio posted, “Don’t own the sidewalk, but it’s ok for the city to fine owners for not shoveling in front of their house.”
Michelle Goldberg said, “I love love love dogs, but a few of my neighbors let their dogs pee on my planters. My Vet suggested ground chili powder sprinkled around keeps them away …. and or does. Dogs smell it (BEFORE it can hurt them) and stay away. In addition, It won’t kill grass or plants.”
Suggesting fines or enforcing regulations seems like a waste of time. But if more people started putting out signs then maybe it would shame these dog owners to train their dogs properly and curb them.
