Am I an ahole for not laying down "pet-safe" snow/ice melt?

[Anonymous]

I volunteer for a program to clear snow for those who can't do it themselves. They give out free generic bags of ice melt to volunteers. But since we had NO snow last winter, I have some leftover from last year and plan to use it on my own pathway. (I have a new bag for this years less-able residents)

It doesn't say "pet safe" anywhere on the bag. I don't want dogs to get harmed, but truthgully most of their owners are kind of jerks themselves (let their dogs pee on my yard, use long leashes, etc). Does generic ice melt really hurt the paws of dogs considerably more than the "pet safe?"

[Anonymous]

Maybe they'll learn to avoid your path and their dogs will stop peeing on your yard.

[Anonymous]

Highly doubt you’re the only one. I didn’t even know such a thing existed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer for a program to clear snow for those who can't do it themselves. They give out free generic bags of ice melt to volunteers. But since we had NO snow last winter, I have some leftover from last year and plan to use it on my own pathway. (I have a new bag for this years less-able residents)

It doesn't say "pet safe" anywhere on the bag. I don't want dogs to get harmed, but truthgully most of their owners are kind of jerks themselves (let their dogs pee on my yard, use long leashes, etc). Does generic ice melt really hurt the paws of dogs considerably more than the "pet safe?"

Yes and knowingly putting it on PUBLIC walkways is not a nice move.

Do you purposefully try to harm squirrels, rabbits, foxes, etc that pee in your yard or is it only the domesticated animal pee that bothers you?

If its your walkway and driveway, use whatever you want. On public walkways, use petsafe. Thats a good compromise if you arent willing to use petsafe for everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Use it, but in reasonable quantities and only when needed. Commercial buildings in particular like to lay down a thick layer of ice melt whenever there's a hint of snow in the forecast (like this weekend) and it ends up being washed into the storm drains by the rain.

My dog has never had any ice melt related issues and I know most places are NOT using the "pet safe" stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer for a program to clear snow for those who can't do it themselves. They give out free generic bags of ice melt to volunteers. But since we had NO snow last winter, I have some leftover from last year and plan to use it on my own pathway. (I have a new bag for this years less-able residents)

It doesn't say "pet safe" anywhere on the bag. I don't want dogs to get harmed, but truthgully most of their owners are kind of jerks themselves (let their dogs pee on my yard, use long leashes, etc). Does generic ice melt really hurt the paws of dogs considerably more than the "pet safe?"

Yes and knowingly putting it on PUBLIC walkways is not a nice move.

Do you purposefully try to harm squirrels, rabbits, foxes, etc that pee in your yard or is it only the domesticated animal pee that bothers you?

If its your walkway and driveway, use whatever you want. On public walkways, use petsafe. Thats a good compromise if you arent willing to use petsafe for everywhere.

The ice melt is donated by a program. OP is not buying it themselves and deliberately choosing the other kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer for a program to clear snow for those who can't do it themselves. They give out free generic bags of ice melt to volunteers. But since we had NO snow last winter, I have some leftover from last year and plan to use it on my own pathway. (I have a new bag for this years less-able residents)

It doesn't say "pet safe" anywhere on the bag. I don't want dogs to get harmed, but truthgully most of their owners are kind of jerks themselves (let their dogs pee on my yard, use long leashes, etc). Does generic ice melt really hurt the paws of dogs considerably more than the "pet safe?"

Yes and knowingly putting it on PUBLIC walkways is not a nice move.

Do you purposefully try to harm squirrels, rabbits, foxes, etc that pee in your yard or is it only the domesticated animal pee that bothers you?

If its your walkway and driveway, use whatever you want. On public walkways, use petsafe. Thats a good compromise if you arent willing to use petsafe for everywhere.

The ice melt is donated by a program. OP is not buying it themselves and deliberately choosing the other kind.

REGARDLESS they are using donated non-pet-safe stuff on their property. which is fine as long as they arent discussing putting it where dogs walk like sidewalks or ends of driveways that are public use.

[Anonymous]

I have a dog and buy pet safe ice.
It would great if people could use less ice in general (it's really bad for our waterways and ecosystem), and pet-safe ones when they must, but since you already have ice that was given to you, I think it's morally fine for you to not waste it.

[Anonymous]

I am a huge dog lover and foster. I would never discourage people from using whatever is available to them. IMO cheap/free but being USED is the most important. Trying to put barriers in place is only going to make less people use anything, which is more dangerous. In my area you can pick up free melt/sand mix at certain places, and I encourage people to do that.

People can wipe their pets feet when they return home after a walk. If someone slips and hits their head or breaks a bone, theyll probably wish you would have just used whatever you had available instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer for a program to clear snow for those who can't do it themselves. They give out free generic bags of ice melt to volunteers. But since we had NO snow last winter, I have some leftover from last year and plan to use it on my own pathway. (I have a new bag for this years less-able residents)

It doesn't say "pet safe" anywhere on the bag. I don't want dogs to get harmed, but truthgully most of their owners are kind of jerks themselves (let their dogs pee on my yard, use long leashes, etc). Does generic ice melt really hurt the paws of dogs considerably more than the "pet safe?"

Yes and knowingly putting it on PUBLIC walkways is not a nice move.

Do you purposefully try to harm squirrels, rabbits, foxes, etc that pee in your yard or is it only the domesticated animal pee that bothers you?

If its your walkway and driveway, use whatever you want. On public walkways, use petsafe. Thats a good compromise if you arent willing to use petsafe for everywhere.

I'm 17:18 and I use non-pet safe melt on my 'public' sidewalk.

I'd rather provide a safe place for people walking in front of my home. Not everyone can afford the fancy ones, no need to make things more difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a huge dog lover and foster. I would never discourage people from using whatever is available to them. IMO cheap/free but being USED is the most important. Trying to put barriers in place is only going to make less people use anything, which is more dangerous. In my area you can pick up free melt/sand mix at certain places, and I encourage people to do that.

People can wipe their pets feet when they return home after a walk. If someone slips and hits their head or breaks a bone, theyll probably wish you would have just used whatever you had available instead.

+1 I’d rather wash my dog’s paws than slip and fall. Thank you for putting anything down when the forecast calls for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a huge dog lover and foster. I would never discourage people from using whatever is available to them. IMO cheap/free but being USED is the most important. Trying to put barriers in place is only going to make less people use anything, which is more dangerous. In my area you can pick up free melt/sand mix at certain places, and I encourage people to do that.

People can wipe their pets feet when they return home after a walk. If someone slips and hits their head or breaks a bone, theyll probably wish you would have just used whatever you had available instead.

+1 I’d rather wash my dog’s paws than slip and fall. Thank you for putting anything down when the forecast calls for it.

This. And also this: https://www.themudbuster.com/

Affectionately referred to as a "pawket pu$$y" for the dirty birds.

[Anonymous]

It's a sold 92+ hours after snow fall ends that anyone even considers removing snow from in font of their homes, so anything before that would be great!

[Anonymous]

As a daily walker, I do appreciate you putting down ice melt and making things safer for humans. Thanks for the volunteer work you do. The fact that you even question if you are the a hole tells me you are a kind and considerate person. Dog owners can wipe their dogs’ paws.

[Anonymous]

THEY ARE ANIMALS.

Of course you are OK with what you are doing.