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Keep trail clean

I have no qualms about scraping the snow off my skis after cross-country skiing on Centennial trail, but when I have to also scrape the dog poop off the bottom of my skis, that is another matter!

I have no qualms about scraping the snow off my skis after cross-country skiing on Centennial trail, but when I have to also scrape the dog poop off the bottom of my skis, that is another matter!

This past weekend, I enjoyed the milder weather and the scenery as usual, but it was marred significantly by the numerous piles of dog excrement all along the trail, even in the ski tracks. There is no excuse for this as we are supplied with garbage bags, and ample secure bins in which to place them after use. I love taking our chocolate lab up to Centennial when I go there to ski or walk — that is why I don’t frequent Black Jack very often — but when she defecates, I stop to pick it up so others do not have to manoeuvre around it.

Please, everyone who has a dog and frequents any of our beautiful trails, do the honourable thing and pick up after your pet! Some have told me that they feel the use of plastic garbage bags for this purpose only adds to the landfill, so if this is your excuse, please at least remove the fecal piles off the trail and nearby shoulders, or use biodegradable bags available in our local pet store.

The annual Spring clean-up by trail lovers should not be the time when we do what dog owners should be doing all season, and while I am grateful that some selfless people are willing to do this nasty job, there is no time like the present to keep our snowy world pristine! Thanks for reflecting on this if you are a dog owner using our local trails to exercise your canine pets.

Ruth DuBois

Rossland