Dog etiquette for ponding basins

I noticed my neighborhood ponding basin was actually open, free of people and dogs, so I decided to change it up and walk my dog there May 10.

I had just walked through the gate, when a car pulled up with a dog, so I returned to the entrance to make sure I wouldn’t be stuck inside if the dog was unleashed. Sure enough, the owner let the unleashed dog out without a second thought.

This time, I stood by the gate and loudly asked for her to please leash her dog – three times and she finally complied. I continued on my walk in the basin while she sat and evidently was going to wait until I left. Schoolchildren came in the basin for their physical education class, so she left.

After the closing of these basins, what does it take for people to understand that they must leash their dogs for everyone’s safety?

Perhaps instead of walking away as I used to do, people who properly use the basins, can step up and politely ask people to leash their dogs – no matter how many times they have to say it. This worked for me!

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 2:17 PM with the headline "Dog etiquette for ponding basins."