The Old Farmer’s Almanac… yes, there is still such a thing, identifies the dog days of summer as July 3rd through August 11th. It has something to do with heat, humidity, and lazy days.
I don’t think Marquette, Michigan represents ground zero for that kind of summer, and I’m not sure why they had to drag dogs into it. But, weather patterns aside, it seems every day around here is a dog day.
Dog ownership in this community appears to be greater than ever. The young folks settling in the area love their dogs. And the old folks love theirs too.
With dog ownership comes responsibilities, not unlike those of parenting. Has your dog been potty trained? Is he well-behaved around company? Is your dog okay with periods of solitude while you attend to the rest of your life? Does he bite?
Also, like kids, dogs do better with structure and accountability. And love. It’s not that hard.
Dogs on the Go
You can hardly drive a block in this town without seeing dogs walking their owners, bag in one hand, leash in the other, starting and stopping at every smell that hasn’t yet been inspected. The dogs, that is.
What to Know
The ground rules for dog ownership, both legal and behavioral, shouldn’t be that hard to follow.
Hardly one of these dog days goes by without someone on Facebook asking where they can walk their dog, off leash. Or what beach is dog friendly. Or if they can take their pup to a bar or restaurant. Or, why people don’t pick up after their dog.
Here are the rules that most commonly apply to you and your dog…
The Leash
It’s state law that all dogs must be on a leash, unless they’re on your own private property, with the exception of an off-leash dog park. (More on that below.)
The Beach
There are no designated dog friendly beaches within the Marquette city limits. You may see dogs and their owners on one of our beaches from time to time. That doesn’t mean it’s okay, that just means it’s flying under the radar and avoiding the authorities. If you’re not causing a problem, you might get away with it. Proceed at your own risk.
You may find dog friendly beaches outside the Marquette city limits. Little Presque Isle and Wetmore Landing, both up CR 550 on the way to Big Bay, do permit dogs… on leash.
Dogs and Dining
Generally speaking, dogs are not allowed in establishments that serve food, with the exception of licensed service animals. Some establishments with outdoor seating do allow dogs. A site called BringFido lists the dog friendly restaurants in Marquette. I’m not sure how current the info is, so you might want to check before you go.
Side Note #1: “Service Animals” are not the same as “Emotional Support Animals.” Emotional support animals are not granted the same liberties or permissions as a working service dog. Emotional support dogs provide comfort to their person with their presence. Providing comfort is not a trained behavior, however, so the dog is not considered a service dog under the ADA. In other words, Emotional Support Animals are typically not allowed where Service Animals would be.
Leave No Trace
Per our city Code of Ordinances, Section 8-7 – Sanitation
A) No owner or custodian of any animal shall cause or allow such animal to soil, defile or defecate on any public property or upon any street, sidewalk, public way, play area or private property other than that of the owner, unless such owner or custodian shall immediately remove and dispose of all feces deposited by such animal in any manner permitted by law.
In other words, pick it up.
For Your Reference
Here’s a good idea. Instead of looking to Word on the Street for the various relevant sections of the code, you can check it out yourself. It’s pretty easy to access and follow, and you can learn more about the set of regulations the city uses to guide their actions.
Side note #2: I was thinking the text in the code is what we’ve always called boilerplate. Material that you can just copy and paste, that suits your needs. That’s how you come up with the Sanitation ordinance cited above. But, as it turns out, it’s probably no longer boilerplate, but rather AI. Boilerplate to AI. That’s the way it’s going these days.
Back to the Dogs
Many city dog owners enjoy Tourist Park as an off-leash site during the winter months. But, occasionally, we have summer months here too. Currently there is no designated location in the city for off-leash activities during the summer.
Well, with the community’s help, that’s going to change.
The City of Marquette, along with the Board of Light and Power, has dedicated nearly 10 acres of wooded land for a fenced, dogs-only place for canines big and small. That’s step one.
Step Two is now in progress, being spearheaded by a group called Marquette Dog Park Friends. They’re currently in the fundraising phase, having already mapped out the plan for what the park will look like, once completed.
If the quality of their website is any indicator, this park is going to be done right, and become a source of pride for our dog-loving community.
But, and there’s always a but, it’s gonna take some bucks and in-kind donations to make it happen. For more info on the park and how you can contribute, visit Marquette Dog Park Friends.
For even more info, upfront and personal, you can attend the Marquette Dog Park Fundraising Kickoff Event, Monday at noon, at the site of the park. It’s just past the NTN North Trails 550 Trailhead, not far beyond the bridge crossing the Dead River.
Beware of Owner
If we want our community to continue to be a welcoming place for dogs and their owners, we need to hold those owners responsible for the behavior of their dogs.
This might be a stretch, but not by much. There are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners. Working together, and holding each other accountable, we can make our dog days of summer, and every other season, the best days of the year.