If You're Walking Your Dog Along the Rail Trail

The Goffstown Rail Trail is indeed a great place for a walk, to ride your bike, and yes, to even walk your dog. However, I find there is a problem with some of those people who are using the Rail Trail for walking their dogs. They are not taking the proper responsibility of picking up and bagging their dog’s feces when they go. On a walk, dogs will pee and poop and it is their poop that becomes a problem for others using the trail.

Last week, I was walking the Rail Trail from Danis Park Road area up to Henry Bridge Road and back. I couldn’t believe the amount of doggie poop I saw on the trail. It was everywhere and even mixed into the dirt and sand on the trail, in the area of the path used to walk and ride, making it hard to see. Unaware, I apparently stepped on some dog poop and didn’t realize it until later when I tracked it into the house. It covered the sole of my right shoe and that had to be cleaned up as well.

If more dog handlers were responsible people, such things would not occur. If you’re going to walk your dog, take along a plastic trash bag and a scoop and when your dog has to stop to poop, pick up its mess with the scoop, put the mess in the trash bag. Carry the bag home with you and dispose of it properly in your garbage disposal unit. Like everything else in life, you should always be prepared, not ignorant.

As the Rail Trails become more accessible, more and more people will use them. It only makes sense that if we are to enjoy them to the fullest, we need to be responsible. When I walk the trails, I always carry a trash bag in my pocket. When needed, I can put my empty water bottle, sandwich wrap, or whatever, into the bag and carry it home for proper disposal. It also allows me to pick up trash I find left on the trail by irresponsible people as well.

As for dog walkers, unlike Manchester, Goffstown has no law about picking up after your dog as Manchester does. It is up to the dog walker to be responsible in helping to keep the environment clean by picking up his or her dog’s mess. So please, when you walk your dog, carry a bag and a scoop and pick up after your dog when you walk it. You’ll be doing us all a big favor and you’ll enjoy your walk on the Goffstown Rail Trail even more.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

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