Many years ago a couple who lived near Mount Douglas Park grew so tired of dog waste on the trails they went vigilante and placed a trash can with ‘poop’ stenciled clear on it at the junction of Mercer and Glendenning trails.
It was successful. But now, the vigilante ‘poop can’ is in need of a new caretaker.
This is Earl. After 4-plus years he is unable to consistently empty the dog poop barrel of a Mount Douglas trail off Glendenning and deliver the bag to the parking lot garbage. Aging and with medical issues He’s hoping someone can take over. pic.twitter.com/7saXnVdgWU
— Saanich News (@saanichnews) March 18, 2019
Saanich didn’t put the trash can there, nor did they tend to it. It was up to the couple who put it there to make regular visits to swap and transport the trash bag of dog waste (mostly) down the trail to the Saanich Parks trash can at the Glendenning Road entrance to the park.
READ MORE: Stuff hits the fan over discarded poop bags
It decreased the amount of dog waste left along the trail, said Earl Hannon, who’s lived nearby for 20 years. Hannon took over the task about four-plus years ago but medical issues and age have now caught up and he can’t do it anymore.
“I’d like someone to take it over,” he said. “That’d be ideal.”
In an effort to find a new volunteer Hannon recently pinned a notice on the posts at the Glendenning entrance to the park which explain the situation. Some have torn his phone number off but to no avail.
Saanich litter bins are typically placed at trail and park entrances and in parking lots where there is suitable vehicle access to allow for removal, said Saanich’s manager of park operations Andrew Burger.
“We’re appreciative of the volunteers who have managed this particular bin for the last several years,” Burger said. “We recently found out that this volunteer is no longer able to provide this excellent and much appreciated service, so we’re looking at how our crews can manage it.”
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Managing dog waste is a growing challenge that Saanich encounters throughout its extensive park system. Darrell Wick, president of the Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society said its a never-ending issue. Some dog owners refuse to comply.
“We recognize that with increased use of our parks, such as Mount Douglas Park, there is a need for more types of litter bins in different areas of the park,” Burger said. “We’re exploring options for different systems and receptacles that may not require vehicle access for waste removal.”
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