Allowing dogs in our children's playgrounds is awful. There are way too many irresponsible people who do not clean up after their dogs.

It is an ongoing issue. Playgrounds, Schools and fields. Just because there are signs saying pick up after your animal, does not mean that some dog owners will abide by the rules.

Unfortunately, the only way to send a message to dog owners to clean up after their dogs is for the police and Dog Officer to issue citations to the owners of the dogs. Most dog owners are compliant with cleaning up after their pets, but it only takes a few to spoil it for the rest.

I agree 100%. It is wrong to let dogs on fields. Each field has a sign stating leash and scooper law and they are ignored 95% of the time. People use the fields as dog parks and dogs are off leash all of the time. I love animals but I don't trust all animals so I carry pepper spray.

One town dog officer for 60k residents which most are out of control with no respect for the law or fellow neighbors. I suggest adding $10 per year to every residents property tax and add more Officers to police our parks for our children's safety. Remember when we were children and there was an officer at every park at night keeping order????? What happened to our priorities.

Hmmm, I wrote an article about this last year. A guess these folks forgot their doggie clean up bags. For shame. Lots of bad bacteria in dog waste. I agree this must be curbed.

There are worse things in the world than stepping in poo

Kelsey: Are you, Kathleen & Ashley all the same person who post on this forum????????????

I am my own person thank u very much

Well Golfer, apparently someone is not scientifically inclined or informed of the dangerous consequences of coming in contact with dog poo. If they were, they wouldn't have said there are worst things in life other than that. I know the dangers because I keep myself informed. Like you I really don't care for those who think they know it all but they don't.

Here's the scoop on dog poo, it harbors dangerous bacteria that can make a person deathly ill. Parasitic infections are hard to treat and are miserable to endure. But if responsible dog owners clean up after their pets, disaster averted.

Sandy; The point is the Town only has one part time officer. What subject you on???? You sound soooooo much like Kathleen. Why?????

Kathleen? No not that person. I was just stating why it should be addressed I was not pushing on having it done yesterday. That's all. I went at it from a different angle. I sense some paranoia coming on.

No paranoia my dear :-) Just know what goes on around here :-)

Okay. Gee only one part time officer. Hmmm. That's not good. So many offenders and not enough help. Sounds very much like my town. But it makes me wonder, instead of complaining about it, why not make suggestions to make things better? Because Stoneham only has one part time officer, why not set up a string of video cameras in popular dog walking venues like the police have cameras to catch delinquent drivers? That way they can at least see that something needs to be done even if you can't catch the offenders unless someone ventures out and gets a sample of the dog poo. I saw it on my news app on Buzz 60. In Australia, scientists can actually get DNA from a sample and match it to the offending dog and its owner. A little far fetched but it's in the works. It's called poo printing. I bet that officer would really like having that kind of technology available to him.

So far there have been a lot of complaints, and they're valid, but If I see something not right, I address it but I offer a suggestion with a possible solution. If they like it or not it's up to them. I just offer it to counter balance the argument .

Sandy; Are you a resident of Stoneham???

I'm from Wakefield. Trust me, my town has the same issue with lazy dog owners who don't clean up after their pets.

It's gross plain and simple. If you own a dog, pick up after it. Parks are for children to play. Parents shouldn't have to worry about kids stepping in dog poo. If owners aren't going to follow scooper rules then no dogs should be allowed at play grounds.

It could end up that way soon enough Lookout.

Sandy, Lookout what!!! If the Town adds to the Code that no dogs are allowed in a park then what?, Just another law or code that gets ignored and or not enforced. Stoneham residents must stop putting the burden on town officials and workers to enforce the trivial problems around town. You cannot tell me these poop perpetrators are able to sneak around dropping their load. Have the guts to "See something, say something"

This matter has been referred to the Town Administrator and the DPW.

All dogs should be tested for 'DNA' so we can locate the arrogant owners of these pets.