Holy crap!

"One person can make a difference, and everyone should try."

We're not sure that President John F. Kennedy was talking about dog poop when he said this, but it applies nonetheless.

Most dog owners are responsible and courteous of others who head to Laurier Woods Conservation Area to enjoy a quiet hike through nature just minutes from North Bay's core. The actions of the few, however, are ruining the hiking trails for the many.

After witnessing what has been left over from irresponsible dog owners now that the snow is melting off, it is clear that something stinks in Laurier Woods, and it is more than likely coming from the bottom of your boots.

The trails are managed and maintained by the Friends of Laurier Woods, under the auspices of the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority. Warnings about dogs off leashes and picking up dog business are clearly stated at the entrance to the trails and on the Laurier Woods website.

There is a $95 dollar fine for breaking the dog-related rules. Lisa's Doghouse graciously sponsored a station with all dog poop-related necessities, including baggies and a trash deposit. Yet people continue to let their dogs run free and defecate wherever their travels take them.

So what makes a person leave dog feces in the trails? Laziness? Anarchism? Do they believe that the poop will melt off in the spring? Of all the poop photographed in Laurier Woods, the most perplexing ones are the bagged poop thrown just off the trail. So, you've picked up the poop but have now littered with the poop? Who does this?

From the Laurier Woods website under the Doggie Do's & Don'ts section:

Pets are no more members of the natural ecosystem than humans. Direct predation involves dogs chasing wildlife and while they may not always catch and kill the animal, they may injure it enough to cause subsequent death. Many wildlife species are instinctively fearful of pets, such as dogs, causing them to become startled, stressed, abandon nests, vacate an area and use their limited energy reserves to flee. 

Dogs can transmit a number of pathogens to wildlife such as Parvovirus, Muscle Cysts, Leptospirosis and parasites (ticks, tapeworms and fleas) through feces. Dogs roaming off trail can trample vegetation, and if dogs are numerous they can remove the vegetation in popular areas by trampling, scratching and digging. Dog feces add significant nitrogen to the soil, which encourages the growth of non-native plants at the expense of native plants.

NO ONE wants to see anyone get hurt; NO ONE wants to see a pet get hurt; and NO ONE wants to see Laurier Woods, a provincially significant wetland preserve in the heart of North Bay, unintentionally destroyed. 

THANK YOU to all responsible pet owners for helping to keep Laurier Woods in its pristine natural state.