By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

Every day, Shasta likes to romp and play at Chatham’s John Waddell Off-Leash Dog Park.

But for owner Carmen McCauley and other dog parents, not so much.

McCauley said the municipality isn’t cutting the grass enough at the park, meaning there’s an increase in pesky insects and it’s also hard to find the ‘treasures’ the dogs leave behind when they do their business.

“We’re worried about ticks because of Lyme disease and you can’t pick up poop,” she added. “You’re stepping in other dogs’ (feces) on the way to find your own. It’s always a lovely surprise when you step in your car.”

McCauley, one of the proponents behind the founding of the park more than 10 years ago, said she’d like to see more maintenance at the site. Fallen tree limbs and overgrown noxious weeds along the chain link fence – including stinging nettle – are also a problem.

McCauley said she and others call the Chatham-Kent 311 line on a regular basis to complain about conditions.

“Last year they were mowing regularly,” she said. “This year they’ve just abandoned the place.”

When contacted by The Voice about grass cutting at the park, Chatham-Kent’s director of parks, recreation and facilities said the dog park is classed by the municipality as a C cut. According to Robert Pollock, the grass is to be mown once a month and is never supposed to exceed five inches.

“If the grass is growing quicker and requires more than one cut to ensure it is below the five inches threshold, then the contractor monitors that and cuts it as appropriate,” Pollock said in an email message. “If there are performance-related issues and long grass concerns, staff will follow up with the grass contractors on those issues to resolve them. ”

Editor’s note: The grass at the dog park was cut a day after the interview with McCauley was conducted.