Published in the Beacon Hill Times, April 7, 1998

People love rules. They tell us what to do and what not to do. Go at a green light; stop at a red.

But sometimes hard and fast rules fail us, particularly when the right answer lies somewhere in the middle. Such is the case with dogs, dog owners and the Boston Common.

The rule is that dogs must be kept on a leash on the Common. Yet for years dog owners have gathered on the Common to let their dogs run free. It is a practice that has been tolerated by the city, perhaps even countenanced by the Parks Department.

Yet a few weeks ago, after years of benign neglect, the city cracked down. Park officers warned dog owners to leash their dogs or get off the property. Dog owners got angry, both sides raised their hackles and out of the midst of calm, lo! a controversy was born.

Should dogs be allowed or prohibited? Neither. The right answer is, a little of both.

The case for unleashed dogs is strong. About a third of families in Boston have dogs. They serve as companions, protectors and, quite truly, as family for their owners. But dogs are animals as well, and they need to exercise and run. Some of the more limber amongst us can run with our dogs on a leash, but most of us, accustomed to life behind a desk, find our dogs exhaust us and that we need to let them run free.

Cities should accommodate dog owners, runs the argument, and allowing dogs to run harmlessly on open space is a reasonable course of action.

The counter-argument is strong as well. The dogs and dog owners gathering on the Common have worn bare a wide swath of the parade grounds. Out-of-control dogs run through the grounds, scaring passersby and in effect co-opting the grounds for themselves. In addition, far too many owners refuse to pick up after their dogs, leaving their messes out for pedestrians to step in and park employees to clean up. It's arrogant and thoughtless.

The Parks Department has now agreed to begin meeting with dog owners to see if a compromise can be arrived at. A few thoughts along the way.

First, it is flatly unacceptable for dog owners to fail to clean up after their dogs or for them to allow out-of-control dogs to run free. Those owners should be fined and kicked off the Common. Moreover, dog owners themselves should self-police, making it clear to other owners that certain types of behaviors are out-of-bounds.

Second, too intensive use of the space is unacceptable. If dog owners would disperse, rather than gathering in one spot, the damage to the parade grounds could be avoided. In addition, if owners would take pains to walk their dogs at off-hours, fewer passersby would be put in jeopardy.

Indeed, most of this controversy arose because too many people suddenly discovered the Common as a dog run. Like many things in life, a little bit is okay, but too much is not.

Finally, the city needs to invest in creating a few dog runs. There are none right now, although one is in the planning stages for Peters Park in the South End and the MDC has agreed to create one on the Esplanade by Massachusetts Avenue. More dog runs are needed, however, and the city has moved far too slowly to meet the demand for them.

Dogs, and dog owners, should be welcomed in Boston. A little responsibility, a bit of moderation and a commitment by the city to accommodate one's pets would go a long way towards quelling an unneeded dispute amongst neighbors.