The selfishness of pet owners often seems to have no limit. Bringing a dog or other personal (captive) pet animal to work, into a local eatery, into the passenger seating area of an airline flight or other mode of public transport should not be allowed. The frequent claims of "they're cleaner than people" and "my little 'baby' (Ugh!) would never hurt anyone" are demonstrated to be decidedly innaccurate by this study.

I like animals and have had my share of cats, dogs, birds and fish. I've liked and respected these animals enough not to force and inlict them on to the world of strangers that we all pass through on a daily basis. Leave your pets at home where they belong instead of dragging them out with you as your own personal accessory.

Patterson Park is one huge doggie bathroom. In that big snow we had two years ago, Patterson Park got so disgusting with all of the yellow snow and frozen poop that I couldn't even walk in it. If it was only the air, but pet excrement also ends up in the sewers and in the bay. It's a big problem.

Too many people gets pets as if they're moving lovable toys. Here in the burbs, there are far more dogs barking endlessly in backyards, than I ever see being walked. If more people would think long and hard before deciding to get a pet, we would all be better off. Pets are a lot of work and responsibility, as well as expensive. Note to parents: no matter what your children promise, you will likely end up caring for the pet.

I walk dogs almost every day in various communities in northern Baltimore County. I am a pet sitter/dog walker.

I am dismayed at how many people fail to clean up after their dogs. It seems that the more expensive the community, the more "deposits" I find. It is particularly bad after a snow fall. People seem to think that if the ground is snow covered, they are excused from poop scooping.

Late winter this year I counted 47 piles in one block of very expensive homes. Disgusting.

FR REPLIES: 47? Is that all? I've counted as many as 7 piles behind one townhome in my neighborhood - on the common property where we have to walk around the back with our trash twice a week, and mowers on weekends.