Groton Open Space Association

GOSA Ends Mutt Mitts At Haley Farm, Adopts New Approach

 GROTON — The Groton Open Space Association has stopped buying Mutt Mitts for dog walkers at Haley Farm because of unanticipated problems, and it is taking a new approach to controlling dog waste at the state park.

 For several years, starting in April 2007, GOSA had provided the plastic Mutt Mitts via a dispenser mounted on the rustic bulletin board at the park’s entrance. The gloves were to be used by dog owners to pick up waste and then turned inside out to form bags that would be disposed of in a large metal barrel at the entrance.

 While many dog walkers used the bags as intended, others did not. Joan Smith, GOSA president, explained the problem as follows in a recent e-mail to a dog-owning couple who had offered to pay for a new supply of Mutt Mitts:

 Primarily, the bags are not truly biodegradable. They merely break down to a smaller size. Second, the problem of contamination remains if the bags are not removed from the property.

 After the Crowley family finished mowing the fields this year, we found over 70 bags that had been flung into the fields. This is in addition to several found hanging from trees. We found that the Mutt Mitts were contributing the problem of contamination and litter.

 Since our preference was to have the bags placed into the trash bin for pickup and incineration, it makes no sense to purchase these comparatively expensive bags and to contribute to the manufacture of more plastic, when our expectation of waste removal is not being met.

 We appreciate you and the responsible dog owners who do help us keep Haley Farm clean. If you and your friends would like to help us stock recycled grocery bags, it would be a big help. Extras may also be placed in the Mutt Mitt dispenser.

 I do give a gentle reminder to dog walkers by offering extra bags when I walk around. My husband gives a less gentle “pick it up!”