I'm just glad to know that the Animal Control Officer--aka Jay Donovan--is handing out citations. Those of us who keep our dogs on leash are at the mercy of owners who flaunt their violation of a city ordinance and put us and our dogs in danger.

Let's get a dog park in Woburn then where dogs can be off leash and interact with other dogs... Also let's be serious... Canoes,boats,fishing, other animals get to go in the water why not let dogs cool off on hot days? I'm sure the water gets filtered at a very high degree so I'm sure it will be fine!

Part of the problem is all the websites which list great places to walk your dog. Horn Pond has become a haven for dog walkers for all the different towns surrounding Woburn. We need more enforcement, especially along the trails off the paved path as well. It's disgusting that some dog owners are so ignorant and selfish like Kasey Parlee who don't think they have to follow the rules, especially when it comes to polluting a public water supply.

Horn pond is a great place to walk with or without dogs. I can't believe you are mad that people walk dogs there.
Not that I am condoning dogs being offleash to swim (although I don't see the problem) because rules are rules, but what makes geese, swans, and other wild animals so clean for our drinking water???

Thank you Jena that is all I was trying to say.. but Jean thought I was being ignorant by expressing my feelings!!! That is what a blog is Jean people express how they feel so others get different points of views. It has nothing to do with not following the 'rules' (no where is it stated that dogs are not allowed in water) so your the IGNORANT one!

Kasey a dog park in woburn would be awesome then we wouldn't have to deal with ignorant people like jean :)

Im with Kassey and Chrissy , a dog park will be great

Who drinks Woburn water anyways?! Dogs have been swimming in Horn Pond for literally decades. Grow up, buy a Brita filter.

Why not start a Woburn Dog Owners Group and work on getting a dog park in Woburn! My wife and I know of a city owned spot in East Woburn that would be perfect for a dog park. There are probably are thoughts of locations and ideas on how to accomplish this. Maybe we can get together as a grouop and share thoughts on accomplishing this.

Paul I think that would be an amazing idea. I also just send an email to Mayor Galvin with some location ideas.. Ill let you know if he replies and what he says and we can take it from there!!! Thanks for the post Paul!

wow after reading all these comments i have to agree with many points. how is a dog that gets bathed and groomed more dirty then the wild life that lives at the pond???? there is no posting on no dogs allowed in the water! and i honestly dont agree with not feeding the water fowls also. i grew up feeding them and i want my child to have that memory to. also i dont know anybody who drinks Woburn water! besides it used to be a public beach until it was ruled unsafe to swim in but now you want to drink it! come on people!!! who cares if the dogs want to cool off after a hot walk,you would to if you didnt know it was so dirty!

I would be happy if the dog owners would pick up the poop

It would be great if Woburn had a dog park but I don't think the city cares about our 4 legged friends. You can't take your pet to watch a ballgame at any of the ball parks in the city and people complain when you take them to Horn Pond. If the city can build an outdoor skating rink at Leland Park, why can't we have a designated dog park?

Bravo Jean... Real positive attitude!! (sarcasm) But anyways if anyone starts a move to a Dog Park in woburn leave a link here. I payed 50$-$100 for a Salem pooch pass. i think you just need shot records and they give you a tag.

As a dog owner and a tax payer, I would like to throw my support behind the idea of a Dog Park here in Woburn. I was recently in South Florida and they had a wonderful Dog Park there that my dog LOVED. It had watering spots, exercise equipment and a place for dogs to swim. I will send a letter off to City Hall and the Times too. On another note regarding dogs. Maybe the Dog Officer might want to sit on Salem St and Beach St all along the fence of Woodbrook and give out tickets to ignorant dog owners that don't clean up after their dogs. It is disgusting along that whole stretch of sidewalk.

Well, I'm not surprised that all the dog owners who feel they don't have to pick up their pets and leash their dogs would disagree with me. Hey Kasey and Kevin, no chance you're related? It would be nice if you actually read articles on the pollution that pet waste creates especially in public drinking water supplies. Check out http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/watershed/documents/wachdogwaste.pdf

For those too lazy to read the above here is a portion "...the sensitive, unfiltered drinking water supply for 2.2 million Massachusetts residents. Waste from dogs can enter directly into the reservoir or into the tributaries that then flow into the reservoir. Bacteria and other parasites, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, found in pet waste can survive for long periods when left on the ground. During a rain storm,
these pollutants can be washed into the drinking water supply, compromising water quality that is regulated by state and federal laws."

Kasey, you were just expressing your opinion and I was expressing my opinion. To state that you don't see anything wrong implies that you don't feel that you need to follow the rules, thus making you ignorant. Good luck with that dog park, I'm sure the neighbors living in those areas you all suggest would welcome all the traffic, noise and waste from these dogs.

Classic Jean response i love it.. keep it up

We LOVE discussion on Woburn Patch, but please keep these points in mind when posting... Click to read the highlights of our commenting policy. Bottom line: Be nice. :) http://patch.com/A-fNZS

I,for one, would rather see the city make room for an open space dog park rather than another office park, apartment complex or new housing development....and the noise and traffic caused by a dog park, come on, get real? FYI, If you put more waste bag dispensers and trash barrels in the park, more people would use them. Just saying.... (I don't hide my name either)

A civil action; part two. Kasey Parlee infects woburns drinking water and causes mass infection. I've lived next to Horn ponf my whole life and have seen far worse go into that water. How about when A-Prime spilled a gas trucks load into a brook that feeds into the pond? Or all the geese turds floating around like baby ruth bars in the pool in caddyshack. Jean sounds like a germ freak that instantly sanitizes everything before she touches it

My dog swims in the pond all the time, and there is no sign that says it is against any rule...I live close to the pond and the stream that flows into on rainy days is in fact filled with sewer overflow...I highly doubt that my frequently bathed lab is more of a pollution factor than the birds that poop in the water and the nasty water flowing into it...she doesn't bother anyone and if she did I would be a responsible pet owner and put her back on her leash!

I live in Boston right now and have been for the past four years and the off leash parks they have here are amazing! My maltipoo is so happy when I take her there and she can run around and play with the other dogs. I'm from Woburn and I'm moving back next weekend with my dog and we have two more dogs at home so a dog park in Woburn would be so great! My parents dog and my brothers dog never really get out so I would absolutely love to take the three of them to a dog park in Woburn to meet other dogs and just be able to run around off leash. An important thing for dogs is socializing with other dogs and an off leash park is a great way for them to do that and it's also a great way for pet owners to mingle and chat with other dog owners and neighbors. Kasey definitely let me know the status of the things with the mayor and trying to get a dog park, I would love to help!

DOG PARK http://www.salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_Recreation/space
The Salem Dog Park is located at Leslie's Retreat Park on the North River, off Rt. 114/North Street. A yearly "Pooch Pass" is required for dogs using the park. They may be purchased during office hours at the Park, Recreation & Community Services Dept., 5 Broad Street, for $25. All proceeds are dedicated to maintaining and improving the Dog Park. For the safety of park users, to purchase a Pooch Pass you must present your town/city dog license, documentation from your vet that your dog is current on rabies and distemper, and is spayed or neutered. The Dog Park was built by Salem Play Areas for Canine Exercise (SPACE), a 501(c)(3) non-profit group that continues to work to improve the park. Salemspacebod@gmail.com.

I think this is an incredible format to follow on how to run the park. It is really nice to have an off leash place so a dog can be a real dog.

I have also been to the lowell dog park. these places are just too far for a daily commute from woburn.
http://www.lowellunleashed.org/

Calling a person "ignorant" on an open forum about dog waste? Jean, I hope they ban you from walking near Horn Pond. I walk that pond with my kids, and I wouldn't want any of them contracting whatever disease that made you as "ignorant" as you sound.

Banning dogs in the pond is a technicality. The reservoir is higher up than the pond itself, and on our planet, water does not flow up. But, the multitude of wild animals that bathe in the pond, drink from the pond, and defacate in the pond are too many for one to blame it on the dogs.

I drink Woburn water, and yes, I use a Brita filter. I believe the goose droppings around the pond are more of a nuisance than anything. I was actually thinking of taking a dip in the pond later!

A dog park is a great idea! There's open space here in West Woburn for one too. I'm sure there would be no shortage of people willing to help develop one! And yes...I do drink Woburn water...and walk my dogs at Horn Pond. I even let them wet their feet in the water!

Woburn should increase the license fee for dogs. A $100.00 a year would be a reasonable license fee to start. The $ 100.00 fee could help support the dog park.

Paul has the right idea..... focus energies on positive solutions. You guys should set up a group and get together to start a Woburn Dog Park .

Personally I walk Horn Pond all the time. I love dogs, I think they are cute and I really dont think they bark all that much. If the rules state dogs cannot swim, then Woburn needs to put up a sign because I have never seen anything posted either.

Geese live outside.. Swans and birds do also. So what if they poop everywhere. Just walk around it. You are outside enjoying nature! Dont freak out about goose droppings!!!!

Cant we all just get along? LOL

Jean clearly has too many cats or ferrets...really think about it...there is no sign and that water is already filthy...ill take the fine and let my dog swim in the pond any day. My dog is cleaner then jean I'm sure...what dog can poop and swim ..I'm pretty sure humans can't even do that. Get a grip and snap into reality...

I'm with the parlees!

ahahah jean

A dog park in Woburn would be great for dogs and their owners. Being able to socialize your dog while they get a chance to run and play is a win win. We pay the city every year to license our animals. i would pay a few extra bucks to have a great place to take my dog.

My dog swims there daily; and he will continue to swim there daily. He is very friendly, clean and obedient. It's funny that not person has said anything to me about it. He swims at the beach area where pedestrians don't walk. I also walk him off leash through the trails. Problems? Jean, if you see me walking my dog off leash, please remind me that it's against the law at that time.

Who knows the incredibly belligerent, foul-mouthed diminutive woman who wears a black hoody and has 3 pit bulls unleashed running all over the back trails of Horn Pond? Whoever she is, she should be in jail. Have to admit, her pit bulls are better bred and better trained than she is or ever will be.