June 26, 2017 Weather: Partly cloudy, with a high of 78 degrees.
Notices:
Midsummer Night Swing, the three-week concert series where you can learn to dance, starts on Tuesday. See a list of inexpensive (or free) local events on our calendar.
News:
The power went out at the Empire Hotel on 63rd Street on Friday and people at the rooftop bar reportedly had to walk down. There was smoke (but no fire), and issues with the elevators and water, guests told ABC. Power was restored on Saturday; the outage was caused by an issue in the basement.
A Central Park Conservancy volunteer wrote a letter in favor of plans to increase access to Central Park’s Belvedere Castle.
An Upper West Side cat is the city’s top foster dad, according to the ASPCA. “Over the past five years, this gray-and-white feline has helped raise 25 foster kittens, cuddling, grooming and getting them emotionally and physically ready for adoption.”
An assessment of the Joy Brown sculptures on Broadway: “The bodies, zaftig and bald, stand as high as eleven feet tall. Each weighs well over a thousand pounds. They’re like Teletubbies that grew up, chilled out, lost their headgear, and took up nude sunbathing.”
A former assistant manager at the old Rodeway Inn on 71st Street (now a La Quinta) was found guilty of rape and got 14 years to life.
I know this isn’t discussed in these articles but I was out and about the UWS this weekend (as usual), enjoying the lovely weather and I just have one thing to say…
PEOPLE!!! CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOGS!!! Not only is this getting beyond disgusting but it is embarrassing. This is supposed to be such a nice neighborhood…classic, historical, not to mention expensive!!! and it is just covered with dog excrement.
I had guests in from out of town and they were astonished and I don’t blame them. Seriously, crime, new construction, empty store fronts and all the other issues we bicker about on here are important but this is something we can all agree on, right??!!
Walking around the UWS shouldn’t be a mine field of filth! Clean up after your dogs!! Show some common decency. Please!! Thanks in advance.
Thank you. A long time ago, people sort of started to “curb their dogs,” training them to go off the sidewalk into the street. Later,they started scooping and hoping the mess wouldn’t be soft. (Does anyone remember calling Riverside Park Dog-doo Park?) If I had a dog, I would curb for pee too, because sanitation workers don’t need to suffer more in the summer, picking up bags covered in dog piss and I don’t like to walk into my building and smell a days’ worth of it all over next to the entrance. I love animals but their owners are self-centered in allowing the “guilt” to fall upon their dogs, I shouldn’t have to be proud to be a cat person. But I think these inconsiderate dog owners should be ashamed f themselves. Does it really take doing something like catching them in the act and posting photos? Thanks in advance to those grave enugh to do so.
It feels like the dog population on the UWS is higher than ever. I see lots of people with not just one dog but multiple, and many of them have obviously not trained their dogs. They allow the dogs to urinate and defecate all over the sidewalks. Then everyone else has to constantly watch where they are walking to avoid stepping in it. It is truly disgusting and lowers the quality of life on the UWS.
It has been a problem for years but feels worse then ever lately. I am not sure what the solution is. Some law enforcement for sanitary standards would be nice. And perhaps requiring building owners to clean their sidewalks daily (just as they are required to shovel the snow in front of their building). Maybe the city could pay people to clean the sidewalks in addition to the street sweepers.
You have two things going on with NYC vis-a-vis dog ownership.
One is the increasing suburbanization of Manhattan. By that one means households that once packed up and moved to the country now are either remaining or moving into the city. Worse they seem to want and or are bringing the suburban lifestyle to Manhattan, and this includes having everything from a motor vehicle to a few kids and a dog.
The other things is despite one’s last comment and what you might see on the streets NYC has many childless households, in particular in Manhattan. As such pets especially dogs become the substitute.
There are dog walkers/sitters who make more on an hourly basis then child minders. That should tell you something about the value many in NYC place on their pooch.
As usual you have nailed it B.B. This is exactly what I have been seeing the past 5-10 years here on the UWS.
I wonder why things have changed so much? I think the reduction in crime since the 90’s has emboldened some of these parents to stay in the city rather than move out to the burbs. Also, has to be an economic angle too because it’s as expensive as ever up here (apts & schools) but yet they stay.
Anyway, I guess if you stay anywhere long enough you will see (and lament) all the demographic shifts.
The City doesn’t need to hire even more people just to clean up after dogs without higher fees paid by dog owners and stricter licensing enforcement. Our law enforcement officers need to get off their phones, out of their cars, and have a presence on the streets.
Same upper west siders with the dogs are the same ones not obeying traffic lights while they try to run you down in the cross walk
and maybe they’re the same ones as the PEDESTRIANS that ignore the lights…
It’s not that nice, it’s New York after all
Is this a problem that only the UWS faces? In my experience, this irresponsibility can be found in any world-class city one travels to, and in every single neighborhood in NYC and surrounding regions. Odd to make it seems like it’s just a UWS issue when it’s more of a humanity kinda thing.
Indeed. Parisians don’t clean up after their dogs at all, and the Brits tie their used dog poop bags to fences and trees. Someone else’s problem I suppose. I’d say we’re actually pretty good about it here.
love it when they do pick it up, BUT they leave a nice smear so you wind up walking in it anyway
“clean up after your dogs?” I wish it were only that here in Manhattan Valley. Here you have people who let their dogs off the leash while I’m on the sidewalk. “Don’t worry he doesn’t bite”.
This has been an issue forever. Don’t want to clean, don’t have a dog. Also, if you wouldn’t let them poop in the middle of your floor, why would you let them in the middle of the sidewalk? That ish (literally) belongs in the gutter.
My major pet peeve with some dog owners are the ones who live in luxury/doorman buildings that take their pooch down the street/around the corner to do his business in front of a walk-up or whatever building, then fail to clean up afterwards.
This and or those who let Fido do its business right in the middle of street or against buildings. Dog urine is incredibly corrosive, and difficult to get out of concrete/masonry once it sets in. Worse once one dog goes others will follow that scent.
Once warm and humid weather arrives that whiff you get on many NYC streets is not from human urine, but dogs.
Years ago seem to recall there were signs everywhere warning to “curb your dog”. Don’t see them that much anymore.
I wholeheartedly agree with you GC. This has been going on for years on the UWS. People do not clean up after their dogs, and furthermore they let them pee anywhere on the sidewalk. My own neighbors let their dogs pee on the steps to our building. When I ask them to curb their dogs, they say “I can’t stop her!” It’s like the dogs are walking them, and not the other way around. There is no enforcement that I have ever seen. I have resorted to removing my shoes before entering my apt (Japanese style), and asking guests to do the same. It’s disgusting.
So dog pee leads you to remove your shoes but everything else you step on in NYC doesn’t.
Seems like selective worry.
Just an example of self-centered, irresponsible, and lazy behavior of the people who think the rules don’t apply to them. Shame on you!
Barking dog in an apartment.
Several months ago the owners of a dog in the building where I live admitted their dog is left in a cage when they’re not at home and barks constantly. The owner told me he was taking care of the problem. He hasn’t. The dog barks continually.
I’ve emailed the managing agent of the co-op recently who responded that the barking dog isn’t theirs. This isn’t correct. I also emailed Helen Rosenthal’s office and have received no response.
Isn’t it cruel to leave a pet in a cage (despite hot weather) and isn’t there a building or humane violation?
I don’t believe it’s uncommon for some dogs to be crated (not caged). A crate is a safe and comfortable environment for some animals that suffer from more severe anxiety, and prevents them from harming themselves when they can’t be directly supervised. As long as the animal is given long walks, and kept in an air conditioned space, and not crated 24/7, this isn’t a harmful practice. They dog most likely already uses calming scents and other soothing/training techniques, but it never hurts to offer new, gentle training ideas. Many people quickly suggest shock collars to try to immediately curb disturbances, but that can often be harmful and counterproductive to pets.
It also may help to speak with the owners and understand the situation and what steps are currently being taken before filing an animal abuse complaint. That is a very serious allegation and really may not be warranted.
I don’t believe in crating. I think it’s cruel rather than comforting.
Bach Flowers “Rescue Remedy” spray helps with separation anxiety.
I would recommend putting in the neighbor’s mailbox along w/ a nice note saying that you are concerned for the dog’s emotional well-being. Maybe buy a dog toy too.
You can suggest getting a companion for the dog (another dog or cat).
There are videos on youtube that show you how to train a dog for your departure when you go to work.
You could give the neighbor a link.
Some people talk to their dogs via a webcam.
A dog control person told me that no one ever
believes or admits that their dog is a problem.
File a complaint with the city:
https://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1187/noise-from-dog
Do a lot of us a favor and not print notes like the last one here. What purpose does it serve?
Why shouldn’t it be posted?
i once spoke to the (child) staff in a columbus avenue coffee/pastry joint. my issue was the behaviour of a woman sitting at one of the tables outside. there are usually about four or five tables each with two chairs. the woman was drinking her coffee. the problem was that her dog was sitting on the table. bum down, on the table. you know what that means.
the staff sort of got my point, but i wondered, do they observe, say nothing then wipe down the table? i think not. do they say anything at all? no, not in this case.
it was one of those dogs about the size of a cat.
i don’t get it. i don’t think i’m the only one put off by this, but are people actually oblivious to the consequences?
the old expression ‘curb your dog’ means take you dog to the curb. let it defecate and urinate, and go on your way.
West 73rd seems to be the worst for dog poo.
My vote is for 85th (or 84th, 83rd) street. I would be really upset if I lived in one of those townhouses between CPW & Columbus or Riverside & WE and every morning I stepped out of my beautiful building there was dog poop all over the place. Arggghhhh!!!!
Even the main thoroughfares (86th, 72nd, etc) are now the same. That is what prompted my original comment. I can see people doing this on “side” streets but right on 86th St or 96th St!!!! just brazen…and soooo disrespectful to everyone.
These people are not animal lovers. They should be fined and after the third ticket…loss of your dog license. Sorry, Fido’s going to a farm upstate so he can run around and be happy.:)
I’m less concerned with dogs than with humans. At least weekly I see people (male) urinating in public, including on the building in which I live. There seems to be no regard for laws or civility.
FYI….the mayor & city council voted for urination in public …it is no longer a crime
Not exactly true.
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/public-drinking-noise-offenses-warrant-civil-summonses-article-1.3244798
Please don’t confuse the Righties with facts.