Clean-Up Crew

Most days we get down to the shores of Lake Ontario once--either for our early morning walk or the afternoon one. Our long walk. Our off-leash, socializing, play-with-other-dogs, camera-toting walk.


Today it was the early morning walk. When we got onto the boardwalk, I was disappointed to see an Animal Control van parked on the grass, along the boardwalk, which meant no strolling along the shoreline with my dog off-leash, without chancing a ticket issued to the tune of $500+. No dogs are allowed on the sand of our newly-designated 'Blue Flag' beach. They are not allowed off-leash unless in the designated, partly fenced in off-leash area (but we do take our chances when there are no officers on the beat!)

As I drew closer, it struck me that today was the day set for the dog owners in the beach to come together and do a beach clean-up, sponsored by the Toronto Beaches Dog Association. I assume this is done so we can show how much of the garbage along the beach does not originate from the canine community but from the 'others' who use the beach.

I decided to join in the efforts, since I am a member of the association--grabbed a garbage bag and some gloves (which the TBDA provided) and Journey and I entered the off-leash area. She would be able to socialize while I worked.

After about 20 minutes my garbage bag held some metal shards, lots of plastic items, used kleenex, broken glass beer bottle pieces but....no evidence of anything "doggy"! No bacteria-ridden, dried-up piles of poop, no flea-infested, left-behind dog toys, no sign of any dog-related item. Not one.

There was a great group out there today...the dog owners from our community. I don't recall seeing other groups from within the community exhibiting such enthusiasm and affection for our beach.

On the other paw, I don't necessarily agree we should be doing the city-workers' jobs for them. Just as I don't agree with the Mayor's "20 minute clean up day" across our city. There are staff who are paid a good hourly wage to clean up every day but judging by what's gathered up on that day in 20 minutes, it makes me wonder! I've not seen any city workers do any cleaning up on the beach proper (the sand) for years, although the parks staff are wonderful and keep the garbage bins emptied and the gardens looking beautiful.

On our way home from our morning outing, I came across an area where the guilty parties are definitely of the two-legged variety!! This is evident in the last four photos.