Lotsa Dogs? (Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe: apartments, homes, neighborhoods)

[ScottNYC]

So I'm curious. I grew up a dog lover, with several collies as a child. But ever since living in NYC, I have grown to despise dogs. Well, maybe not the dogs themselves. But people who own dogs in urban areas.

It the annoyance of defecating and urinating in public places, without a hint of concern for others. Walking dogs, people in NYC have no concern for extended leashes that block others as the walk on sidewalks. Hige animals in small apartments. Dogs illegally let off leashes so the poor thing can run freely (what it should be doing), yet approaching me or the wife, jumping on us,. getting us dirty, licking, smelling, hair and the owner smiling as if the world all loves dogs.

So what the deal with dogs in Phoenix? Everyone have them? Few? Rules? Mayhem?

I'd get on if I had 5+ acres. Nothing less.

Or are they needed for security while you're not home?

[observer53]

No, they aren't "needed for security" On the dog forum I frequent, we like to tell people, if you are looking for a security system, get an alarm, not a dog.

Most apartments don't allow dogs over, say, 20 pounds or so. Some don't allow them at all. It's not like New York, there aren't dogs being walked all over downtown Phoenix. In residential areas, yes, and people are not always good about picking up after their dogs, even though there are ordinances in, I suspect, all the cities around here (I know Tempe has one) requiring it. THere are leash laws, everywhere, and pretty good compliance, to my observation. I don't think you will see what you see in NYC.

Everyone doesn't have a dog, but there are lots of them here. A dog doesn't need five acres, so lots of people in single family homes have dogs.

[MaxPower123]

I used to live in a nice neighborhood in Chandler and it wasn't uncommon to see dog do along the side of the sidewalks. It's a major problem though.

[observer53]

Did you mean "it's NOT a major problem though"?

It's not uncommon in the neighborhoods to see that, (as I said above, not everyone complies with the applicable ordinances-- or just common courtesy, for that matter) but I don't see it as a major problem anywhere I've been out walking around.

[Ponderosa]

Maybe if you move to a PHX suburb you can love dogs again. This is a great place to have dogs because everyone has a private walled rear yard. Just let the dog out the patio door while you sit inside in the cool. Or even better, have a doggie door and the dog can let itself in and out. Even the dog poop is easy to deal with. It drys out and hardens like a rock in about a day losing most of its odor and making it easy to scoop.

But like others said, people live side by side here not on top of each other. So the concentration of pets and people is much lower.

[Charles22]

Quiet Pima County is a good blog about dogs in Arizona.

[Charles22]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

But like others said, people live side by side here not on top of each other. So the concentration of pets and people is much lower.

Yeah, but the pet/owner ratio is higher.

[MaxPower123]

Originally Posted by observer53

Did you mean "it's NOT a major problem though"?

It's not uncommon in the neighborhoods to see that, (as I said above, not everyone complies with the applicable ordinances-- or just common courtesy, for that matter) but I don't see it as a major problem anywhere I've been out walking around.

Good observation Observer, that is what I meant. Too late to edit now.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by MaxPower123

Good observation Observer, that is what I meant. Too late to edit now.

I know.. happens to all of us!

[blisterpeanuts]

Originally Posted by observer53

No, they aren't "needed for security" On the dog forum I frequent, we like to tell people, if you are looking for a security system, get an alarm, not a dog.

It's funny you say that, Observer. I've read time and again that burglars will shy away from homes with dogs. They've taken polls of convicted burglars who will tell you dogs are the number one deterrence above and beyond locks and alarm systems.

Now on the other hand, my neighbors have this retarded dog who just barks all the time, so you'd never know if there's a burglar.