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Click Here 42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, January 31, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 16, 2003 Pooped out Medford will install park ‘mutt mitt’ stations to cope with dog do do problem By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune After Medford’s parks director heard the story of a little girl who slipped and fell while running in a city park and got up with dog feces smeared down her front, he knew it was time to take action. So the city is installing eight dog waste removal stations in parks this week. "This is something we’ve been working on for several months," said Scott Archer, adding that parks in other cities have similar solutions. Archer said "mutt mitt" dispenser and trash can units are as common as drinking fountains in parks in other regions. Mutt mitts are little baggies that work like gloves, allowing waste to be picked up by hand and then sealed inside as the mitt is removed by turning it inside-out. According to Medford’s city code, a person who owns or keeps a dog must immediately remove the feces from a street, sidewalk or public property. Advertisement Problem is, not everyone follows city code. The dispensers are being installed at Fichtner-Mainwaring Park, Holmes Park, Eastwood Cemetery, Donahue-Frohnmayer Park, Bear Creek Amphitheater and the city’s Dog Park. "We’ll maybe install a few a year in every park," he said. The installation of the units comes a week and a half after the Medford City Council decided to give dog walkers a second chance to keep using the city’s Eastwood Cemetery, final resting place for many local pioneers, on Eastwood Lane near Keene Way Drive. Complaints of dogs and their owners abusing the cemetery led the city to consider banning pooches there. "The timing of the thing with Eastwood Cemetery is completely coincidental," said Archer, adding that the parks department is working with the police department to come up with a friendly approach to dog-walkers, because he thinks most pet owners are responsible people. Medford police Lt. Tim George said police are doing random patrols in Eastwood Cemetery to warn violators, and community service officers are working with the parks department to put together an education plan. George said he demonstrated the mutt mitt to officers Monday and found them easy to use. George said when people let their dogs go off-leash, which violates city code in most areas, they can’t supervise their dog’s habits as closely. "The leash and the poop go hand in hand," George said. Archer said the issue has become a problem throughout Medford. "We’ve received a number of complaints from people," he said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times