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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Food / Cats / Puppy No Pets at South Park Blocks Farmers Markets

Posted by Patrick Alan Coleman on Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 10:12 AM

3a44/1236704484-beastmaster3.jpg

"Wherever shall we find fresh arugula, Sharak?"

In less than two weeks, spring will officially begin. Coinciding with the vernal equinox on March 21st is the opening of Portland’s Saturday farmers market in the PSU park blocks. The opening of the market will see a selection of early spring veggies, hordes of shoppers, and a surprising lack of animals.

This year the folks from Portland Farmers Market have decided to make a new “No Pets” rule (specifically, "no dogs") for their two busiest locations, both in the South Park Blocks. Organizers say tight spaces in the market, combined with dumb, curious, fuzzy beasts, and a tangle of leashes, have lead to the new policy change.

Personally, I’m excited about this. It’s become increasingly difficult to navigate the Saturday farmers market stalls with the plague of labs in fleece cozies. It seems there’s always a jam as some oblivious dog owner chats with an acquaintance while their mutt sniffs at a table of fresh bread, creating a taught leash trip wire.

You’d think that dog owners would have enough sense about this kind of thing—and I’m sure some do—but all it takes is a few thoughtless people to force someone to make a rule. Still, the market will be better for it. I suspect that things will move much more smoothly among the stalls.

But I’m curious to know what dog owners think of the change. Are there any Blogtownies who are particularly apoplectic about this? And just for the record, the rule applies to all pets. So don’t think you can sneak in your pet iguana Scaly Taylor-Taylor. That goes double for your pet eagle and your ferrets. Basically, Beastmaster, just stay the hell out of the market.

For those who absolutely must take Admiral Furry Bottom to the farmers market, rest assured that your four legged pal will be admitted to all other markets outside of the South Park Blocks. This is especially exciting for those of you who live in Northeast Portland! A new farmers market will be making its appearance at NE 7th and Wygant on May 3rd.

Now, if only they could open a bloody mary stall at the Saturday farmers market and ban all the snot nosed children; then, it would be practically paradise.

 

Comments (13) RSS

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1
"Aye" to the Bloody Mary/No Children proposition.
Posted by mel on March 10, 2009 at 10:29 AM · Report
2
why anyone has a dog in the first place, I still cannot understand.
Posted by blazerlove on March 10, 2009 at 10:44 AM · Report
3
I'm disappointed about the ban, and will be sourcing my arugula elsewhere as a result. I'd like the ban to be extended to battle-strollers as well - they're as big an impediment to flow as are ill-managed leashes.
Posted by rooooo on March 10, 2009 at 10:50 AM · Report
4
how about a ban on fat people! Oh! and the old! damn meandering old people. OUT OF MY WAY! MUST...BUY...KALE....
Posted by McAngryPants on March 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM · Report
5
I know I always feel like a dick when my pooch poaches some grub off a table when I'm not looking. Anything to force me to be less dickish is a good thing. This applies to the rest of you dickheads out there too.
Posted by somewhereSE on March 10, 2009 at 11:07 AM · Report
6
How will they enforce this? Does the PFM have security? Or will it be on the honor basis? I wonder if they will enforce it like how TriMet does. If anyone claims the animal is for medical or support reasons, they are allowed. Heck, I require my chihuahua around me at all times in order to make me feel taller.
Posted by dieselboi on March 10, 2009 at 11:09 AM · Report
7
The trimet policy is actually federal law, dieselboi. This is from the official ADA website: "Although a number of states have programs to certify service animals, you may not insist on proof of state certification before permitting the service animal to accompany the person with a disability."

Basically, if someone says their animal is a service animal they can't be questioned any further and they have to be admitted.
Posted by A CAT, probably on March 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM · Report
8
This is a good rule, and they should take it a step further. Offending animals will be confiscated and harvested for meat and skins on the spot. This would enable people to become more in touch with the source of foods and other animal products. Perhaps someone could even make glue.
Posted by Demondog on March 10, 2009 at 11:47 AM · Report
9
I agree with the battle strollers. Offending babies will be harvested for meat and pelts as well. It's been forever since I've had a baby pelt hat.
Posted by Joe Joe on March 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM · Report
10
A CAT/NOT A CAT IS RETIRING FROM BLOGTOWN.

Remember when blogtown was fun? I do. This was a frivolous place where we could have fairly intelligent discussions about the issue of the day while simultaneously celebrating cat friday/caturday and trolling Matt into various nervous breakdowns while he was changing his medications and calling everyone racist. It was fun!

Alas, the whole fucking Sam debacle brought in some sort of ideologue brigade that wanted nothing but SRS BSNS, but unfortunately had the debate skills of lesser apes. Sam-gate sort of wrapped up, but these dipshits just found new things to have completely incompetent show-downs about. It's fucking boring, and I'm fucking bored.

I know that Rom and jake and all the other half-wits will count this as a win, to which I say "good on you". You've made blogtown insufferably stupid, well done. I'm out.

Kiala, graham, Alison, other decent people: It's been fun, and I'll miss you guys.
Mercury arts interns: by and large you all suck. Up your game.
Matt: You're a talentless hack, but you knew that. Good luck with the mental health issues.

KTHXBAI.
Posted by A CAT, probably on March 10, 2009 at 1:29 PM · Report
11
Too bad. Sure, dogs slow things down, but who shops at that market for produce alone? It's a friend-meeting, sample-snagging, people-watching sort of a scene. Get a CSA basket if you're so worried about crowds.
Posted by Alison Hallett on March 10, 2009 at 2:57 PM · Report
12
As someone that has worked at the Hollywood Farmer's Market for 5 years (haven't heard yet if they banned dogs there, too), I'm incredibly sad about this ban. One of my favorite parts of the market is all the different breeds of dogs, almost all of which are incredibly well-behaved. It really helps the day go by, and if they ban dogs at Hollywood, I just may not go back.
Posted by theMc on March 15, 2009 at 7:15 PM · Report
13
Banning well mannered dog citizens won't solve the markets problems. People will continue to push and shove their way thru. And I'm sure shoplifting takes a greater toll on the vendors than any sniffing pet ever would. The complainers will just find something else to complain about.

Restrictions for dog owners on where they can take their dogs is ever increasing. And at the same time around town I see more business like outdoor cafes, nurseries, antique stores etc that have pet mascots and are pet friendly. I'm very saddened that we have become so intolerant that our very best companions cannot accompany us on the places we go in public in this city. Europe and South America have tolerated and welcomed good dog citizens into much of their public domains.

I'm all for tough leash laws etc. but I think its shows how narrow minded and intolerant people have become in this city towards pets.
Posted by m7 on April 2, 2009 at 3:38 PM · Report

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