Letter: Doggie doo and food safety don’t mix

Today I attended Ridgecrest Playground in New Sudbury with my children. There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration.

One man allowed his large dog to relieve himself in the middle of the lawn where children were playing. He picked it up, but disposed of it in a garbage bin right next to a family that was having a picnic.

Another man went to his home across the street and brought his large dog over, and allowed the dog to have a dump a few feet away from a table where food was being served to the public.

After complaining, one woman working the event went to pick up after the dog and disposed of the feces. She went directly to the table, put rubber gloves on and served food to the public.

A few minutes later, this woman took her gloves off and picked up a slice of pizza for herself with her bare hands.

The first man I spoke of went to the table three times with his dog. The dog’s nose was touching the table where food was being served.

A little while later, a woman arrived with her children and two big dogs. She slowly inched her way inside the fenced area of the water park designated for children and allowed her dogs to go in the water.

I couldn’t wrap my head around the lack of food safety and lack of respect for our children.

There is a time and a place for our own pets, and it is not around food that is being served to the public, and it is not in an area designated for children.

If the city can tell people not to smoke in parks, surely they can tell people not to bring their pets to playgrounds. They are for children.

C. Poirier
Greater Sudbury