After a public attempt by the Gorham Recreation Department to encourage dog owners to pick up and remove all dog waste from the athletic fields at Gorham Middle School, the School Department and the Town have jointly taken the step to remove all single pedestrian gates at the Gorham Middle School multipurpose fields and softball fields as a deterrent for dogs off leash. Signs were posted informing residents of the change which went into effect on August 1. Owners are being asked to not let their dogs roam free on the fields.
Heather Perry, Superintendent of Schools, confirmed that many community members use the fenced-in town fields to let their dogs off leash when not being used by students or athletes. The result is that dogs go to the bathroom on the fields. Some owners have not been diligent in picking up after their dogs, and fecal matter has been left on the fields where children later play.
Photo credit Leslie Dupuis Signs posted at the GMS multipurpose fields remind visitors to pick up after their pets. A new sign (bottom) details the changes that went into effect last week.Perry said this has been an ongoing concern for several years and despite the Gorham Rec. Dept posting signs this spring reminding residents to pick up after their pets, dog waste was still being left behind. This joint decision was made in an effort to make it less likely that community members allow their dogs to roam free and thereby reduce the impact of dog feces being left on the fields.
Pet owners will still be allowed to use the fields, Perry confirmed, but the hope is that dogs will be kept on leashes and owners will be more apt to pick up after them. The situation will be reviewed at the end of August to determine if additional changes need to be made.
“Overall, I am very sure that the Gorham School Department and the Gorham Recreational Department wish to continue our positive relationships with pet owners in the community surrounding GMS. We simply can no longer have canine fecal matter being left on the fields where students play. It is not healthy or safe for our students. Hopefully this small change will encourage pet owners who are not already following the rules to do so and make it more likely that additional changes are not necessary to resolve the problem,” said Perry.