Warning To Dog Walkers!

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

I live in Prestwick (McKenzie Towne) and I walk my dog most days (clean up after him too, always). Yesterday I walk him over by the school just off 52nd, walk through the school yard, and over to the baseball diamond field. There is nobody around. A giant empty park. Anyway, I'm kicking a soccer ball around and my dog is playing fetch with it, when all of a sudden I turn around to see a Bylaw truck speeding toward me through the park with its lights turned on. he procedes to lecture me about having my dog off the leash, and being near a school yard, and that there are posted signs everywhere.. He's actually looking angry and has a tone in his voice that was getting me angry. So I clammed up. He takes my ID and procedes to write me a ticket for $100 !!! Ticket was for "Animal Running at Large" even though he's playing fetch and there is nobody around. So I grab the dog and head back the way I came. As I'm walking out of the park near the school I notice that no sign exists where I enter the park. I flag him down and point out to him that there is no sign, and it would have been nice of him to give me a warning. Like I need a $100 ticket to learn not to take my frickin dog into the park!! He repies "Well we don't give warnings, we give tickets". BAAHHHHH!! I was furious at the guy, but I wasn't showing it or being an ass.

So anyway, sorry for the long post, but be warned, the city is trying to scrape together some extra cash. Keep your dog on the leash. I just couldn't understand that I was actually commiting a crime worth $100 ticket when a warning would've corrected the situation, and kept an average tax paying citizen, from hating the Calgary FAKE COPS with attitudes.

[burn_this_city]

Bylaw officers are typically ######bags..

[jar_e]

Since its bound to be said sometime in this thread...if you can't do the time, don't do the crime

[loob job]

What a dick.

[Traditional_Ale]

Train your dog to pee on his leg. It would be worth the ticket.

[Flash]

Technically speaking, since there were no signs posted where you entered the park, couldn't you fight the ticket? If it's an area where leashes are mandatory, there should be signs posted at every enterance of the park...if there weren't any where you entered, how were you supposed to know? Yes, I know you knew, but you do have an argument where the ticket is concerned.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

I live in Prestwick as well, and let me preface this by saying SWC #10, that this is not directed at you, but the number of dog owners in Prestwick that don't pick up after their dog is large....or appears to be large. I am sick of seeing dogsh*t on my yard or neighbours'.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Since its bound to be said sometime in this thread...if you can't do the time, don't do the crime

Sorry I'm gonna have to agree with jar_e...dogs should always be on a leash in public unless it's specifically an off-leash site.

That said, I guess a hundred bucks is a bit harsh if there really was no one around. He could've just let you off with a warning.

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Since its bound to be said sometime in this thread...if you can't do the time, don't do the crime

Thats the thing - isn't there somebody out there thats actually commiting a crime that, perhaps, this uppiddy FAKE COP should be paying attention to? Like guys running stop signs or urinating in public? Or maybe all the garbage floating around from the construction sites, j-walkers possibly? palying with your dog is illegal!! I'm a criminal, a fellon, and no use to society. LOCK ME UP before I hurt someone!

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Bylaw officers are typically ######bags..

A lot of them are pretty much failed police officers who don't realize that bylaws are not as important life/death/safetywise as enforcing criminal and traffic law.

[burn_this_city]

Pfff you shouldnt have to drive to an offleash park to play fetch with your dog.

[guzzy]

Originally Posted by Flash

Technically speaking, since there were no signs posted where you entered the park, couldn't you fight the ticket? If it's an area where leashes are mandatory, there should be signs posted at every enterance of the park...if there weren't any where you entered, how were you supposed to know? Yes, I know you knew, but you do have an argument where the ticket is concerned.

Leashes are mandatory in the city of Calgary unless it is a registered off leash park

[guzzy]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Pfff you shouldnt have to drive to an offleash park to play fetch with your dog.

agreed

Especially if no one is around.

[babs]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Since its bound to be said sometime in this thread...if you can't do the time, don't do the crime

I agree. Ignorance of the law isn't an excuse.

http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server....erest/Dogs.htm

That being said, the bylaw officer didn't have to be such a dick.

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

Originally Posted by Flash

Technically speaking, since there were no signs posted where you entered the park, couldn't you fight the ticket? If it's an area where leashes are mandatory, there should be signs posted at every enterance of the park...if there weren't any where you entered, how were you supposed to know? Yes, I know you knew, but you do have an argument where the ticket is concerned.

yeah I'll take a picture to court and fight it, but, what a pain. Things have changed since I was a kid out playing with my dog... Calgary is a hole filled with angry people. I guess the park should only be used for baseball. baseball sucks!

[habernac]

if it's a playground area or schoolyard, dogs aren't allowed period.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by Salt Water Cowboy #10

yeah I'll take a picture to court and fight it, but, what a pain. Things have changed since I was a kid out playing with my dog... Calgary is a hole filled with angry people. I guess the park should only be used for baseball. baseball sucks!

You would be wasting your time.....

taken from the site provided by babs

Dogs are not allowed in:

• School grounds
• Playgrounds
• Sports fields
• Golf courses
• Cemeteries
• Wading or swimming areas

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Pfff you shouldnt have to drive to an offleash park to play fetch with your dog.

+1. Great point.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

+1. Great point.

why not?

[Flash]

Thanks for the clarification Fotze and Guzzy...I didn't know one way or another because I don't have a dog. Good to know though!