I agree. Multiple people with dogs at the soccer field yesterday and my husband stepped in dog waste. Imagine how many kids in cleats are stepping and tracking this.

All fields are now dog friendly. I don't know if it's the Town Administrator's decision, I doubt very much, but the owners are being very irresponsible. I was a Rec one morning when two women had their dogs off leash and they came at me barking! I yelled to the women who did not have control of their dogs they are suppose to be on a leash! They ignored me. Next time I will have a bat and they will listen the next time. There has to be a dog park! A park where dog owners can let their dogs run without making other residents uncomfortable to use a park! No amount of signs that are posted will make owners follow the rules. Every owners thinks their dog is obedient and not a threat, I am here to tell you "YOU ARE WRONG!" Respect other park users and follow the rules. If you want change petition the town to create a fenced in dog park.

The Stoneham DPW has ordered pet waste signage that will be placed at these parks. The complaints regarding dog waste are being handled to the best of our ability, however, please understand that with no surveillance or detail to monitor these fields, the fields conditions are at the will of dog owners.

It is a question of ownership etiquette that is falling by the wayside, and there are no regulations that the BOH can enact or enforce to change the attitude of some of these owners that willfully disobey laws that are already in place. We will continue to look into these issues and act on them as best as we can.

Complaint Closed.

Signs are up. People are ignorant. Next time they slide in "dog waste" I will be sure to have them contact the town for injuries. Thanks.

So basically that's a PC way of saying, we're not going to do anything about it. If the town would enact a bylaw that states NO DOGS ALLOWED with a sizable fine, maybe that would be a deterrent.

As it stands these dog owners are thumbing their noses at the town and continuing with this disgusting, unsanitary behavior. There has to be some enforcement that will end this issue. The police do a great job patrolling our town. I'm sure Rec Park is already on the list of places they do. I don't expect a police officer to watch and see if a dog happens to do his business on patrol, however if he's patrolling and happens to see a dog on the field, if they were not allowed, that is a no brainer. Sports programs are a huge positive toward keeping kids out of trouble and occupied. I can't understand why the kids' needs are continuing to be downgraded in place of dogs using the fields.

If the Selectmen cared about our children they would have introduced a similar article.

Town Article

Move that the Town vote to amend the Stoneham Town Code by inserting into Chapter 3 Animals and Fowl the following:

Sec. 3-12. Parks – Dog Ban

(a) Parks – Dog Ban: It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any dog, except a registered service dog, to be within the boundaries of:

Town of Stoneham Parcel 6-0-78, Cerrone Park, as recorded in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds in Book 11873 Page 539.

Town of Stoneham Parcel 13-0-55, Recreation Park, as recorded in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds in Book 10797 Page 353

(b) Enforcement: Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine pursuant to Section 1.4 of these Bylaws.

(c) Penalties: The non-criminal disposition penalty that shall apply to a violation of Section 3-12 shall be as follows:

First Offense (over a 24-month period) Warning
Second Offense (over a 24-month period) $ 50.00
Third and subsequent offense(s) (over a 24-month period) $150.00

And further to amend Section 1-4A of the Stoneham Town Code so as to list the non-criminal disposition penalty listed in this Section 3-12(c) in said Section 1-4A.

If the Selectmen cared about our children, they'd post a "No Geese Allowed" sign. Just look at those birds, strutting and crapping around like they are owned by inconsiderate dog owners. And they're Canadian, no less! Outrage. Won't someone think of the children??

Can't control geese. Bad enough we have to navigate that. Let's compound it by adding in something we can control. That makes sense.

First of all, do you have any kids that play sports and use any of these fields? If you do not, you cannot compare dogs to geese.

If you see someone not pick up after their dog, take their picture and report them to the police if they don't clean up after it. Most people do clean up after their dogs, the one's who don't, confront. If you see it in an area where sports teams are playing, pick it up as a good civic deed and be vigilant in looking for who is responsible.