FAQ

Yes.

Tough. Get a cat.

This is the one thing that the Parks people do for us. They empty the trash once a day, in the morning.

Talk to them. Most people will take off a spiked collar or pick up their dog's poop if you ask. If people get beligerent, you're under no obligation to confront them.

Make sure everyone keeps their dog away from the instigator and their dog. That serves two purposes: safety and isolation. People come to the run so that their dogs can play with other dogs. If there are no dogs to play with, the instigator will probably leave.

If you feel like this person is a danger to themselves or others, do not hesitate to call 911. The police generally respond quickly; they are only two blocks away.

Unless things deteriorate badly, they won't arrest the person, of course. Our rules aren't the law. Nevertheless, the 9th Precinct has been very good to us, and they don't mind defusing situations like this. There's no reason to be embarassed about calling them: they've told us repeatedly that it's better to be safe than sorry. They would much rather take care of things before they get out of hand and someone gets hurt. It's less paperwork.