Since moving to Squamish 21/2 years ago, I've spent a lot of time looking up. Up at the expansive sky views, up at the Stawamus Chief, up at the breathtaking mountains surrounding our valley. I thought Squamish was a beautiful place to live - until I got a dog. Ever since, I've spent a lot of time looking down - at the ground - and I don't like what I see.
I recently adopted Star, one of the puppies rescued from the Northwest Territories in December. She was listed as No. 7 on the Canine Valley website and the mug shot of her startled gaze was the reason I finally made up my mind and called - only to learn she was the last one left. With fate on my side, I'm happy to report that Star and I have established a tight bond. Keeping up my end of our bargain means long walks, and lots of them.
So over the past few weeks, I have roamed the streets and trails of Squamish like never before, hyper-sensitive to what's on the ground, because my dog's nose is coming into contact with everything it smells down there. It's been eye-opening.
I finally see what the irritated folks are complaining about -the ones who submit angry letters to the editor month after month about Squamish dogs doing their business in public areas without owners cleaning up after them. Dog waste is everywhere. Large piles next to virtually every kind of pedestrian path. Most shocking to me is the dispenser of biodegradable dog waste bags at the base of the popular Summit Trail in the Highlands. Over the past several weeks, a pile of green bags full of dog poop - or doop, as I've started to call it - has accumulated on the ground next to it. Fabulous that people are actually using the bags, but to chuck them on the ground, full, at the trail entrance? I mean, what are people thinking? And the pile continues to grow.
Then there is the trash. Take downtown, for instance. Certain corners of downtown Squamish are so covered in litter that they are unbearable to look at, which is probably why I never paid attention until Star's nose got too close for my comfort levels. Nor am I impressed when I wander off a trail only to encounter a clearing filled with squatters' leftovers.
I've been known to gripe about the lack of signage directing people in and around Squamish once they get here. I can't think of another town that promotes itself as a world-class outdoor adventure destination, yet greets people to its downtown core with a McDonald's arch. But now that I'm feeling frustrated about litter and doop on top of my irritation about the dismal lack of quality signage, I'm coining the tri-issue dilemma I'd like to see solved - litter, signage and doop -as Squamish's LSD problem.
Now, I'm aware the DOS is short on cash. I'm aware we have huge infrastructure problems and a struggling local economy. But, in the overall scheme of things, this LSD problem isn't an expensive one to fix. I question how visitors take Squamish's claim as Outdoor Recreation Capital of the Canada seriously when lack of community pride is the most obvious sign of all.
