This place is really small. In the summer, it smells awful and in the spring, rain floods the entrance, so wear galoshes. In all honesty, I had only helped out once or twice during Community Days, so I guess I can't complain too much about the lack of sanitation.
I can complain, however, that many people do not pick up after their animals because they are too busy talking, whether amongst a clique or on their phones.
As with NYC in general, I've met a lot of friendly people here over the years, and a lot of not so nice people.
To the friendly people, thanks for brightening my day. This is one of the many reasons I enjoy having a dog in the city.
To the duds, I hope you never reproduce, if you haven't already. The way you are in denial about the horrible behavior of your animals, is a strong indication that you probably shouldn't have children.
For example, an ill tempered Golden Retriever stood on his hind legs to reach and destroy a knit hat right off my head. The owner (bald, middle aged male) was w/in 3 feet away, did nothing and laughed. No apologies at all. His entitlement was over the top.
Another time, I had a stupid little pug attach itself to my foot, and rip off the thong of my right sandal (as well as some skin), so that I could barely walk home!
The whole process took about five minutes and meanwhile, I was asking around, as civilly as I could, who the owner of the dog was. The nasty owner/creature, who definitely heard me, sat hiding herself behind a book, until the damage was done. Again, no apologies. Instead, a jerk of a dog walker came to her defense, yelled at me, and asked why I wore sandals to the dog park. Insanity.
The last I checked, there's no law against wearing sandals, but common sense (and a whole bunch of signs) indicate that aggressive dogs (no matter what their size) should not be brought in.
Finally, be aware that people without animals come into the run all the time. For example, two clueless suburban girls who thought they found a petting zoo, left BOTH gates open and a woman with two dogs, lost one of them as it ran out though the park, and promptly into traffic. I stayed behind to watch her other dog, and my own. Luckily, she got her little one back safe and sound.
Union Square Dog Run: Enjoy at Your Own Risk. read more