Musings | Debra R. Borys

In response to an article I read in the local paper here, I was inspired to write a letter to the editor. Who knows whether they will post it or not. I am, after all, disagreeing with an idea that seems to be prevalent here in this Midwestern town. I also had to edit it down to 400 words.

In case if never makes it to print, I thought I would post the directors cut, unedited version here to see what you think of the subject. I know what Sophie thinks. If she could, she’d organize a rally in protest.

As a former resident of dog-friendly Seattle, WA, I was delighted to hear about the dog park to be included in the new Rotary Park plans. My dog Sophie had many furry friends at the small dog park near our previous home in West Seattle and has been noticeably missing her four-pawed playtime activities. My joy was short lived however, when I saw the article in Wednesday’s paper reporting council members seem to think this long overdue dog park is a good excuse to pass a city ordinance banning dogs from entering LaSalle city parks.

As any good dog owner can tell you, a dog park is no substitute for taking your dog for walks. Time spent off leash at a dog park is good for exercise and giving the animal an opportunity to socialize with other canines. But going to a dog park is an every once in a while method of entertainment, and not intended to take the place of walking on leash.

Walking with their human on a leash is an activity that needs to be done daily if not two or three times a day. Accompanying owners on walks not only provides exercise for both dog and human, but provides structure and discipline for the pet that goes a long way in improving that animal’s behavior and temperament. A dog that is walked regularly is less aggressive toward humans and other dogs, and less destructive to property than a dog bored out of her mind because the only fresh air and activity she sees is when she is tied to a tree just long enough to take a bathroom break.

It is hard enough to take a dog for a walk in this city. The lack of sidewalks and the condition of many existing ones means at least half the journey has to be done walking on the street while watching for traffic. It is also impossible to enjoy spending time with your dog for long at a dog park. The only dog park currently existing provides no shade for human or animal, and no easy access to water. Baking in the sun while your dog wrestles with his dog buddies offers none of the pleasant recreation found on walking trails and sidewalks and parks.

Most dog owners pick up after their pets and train them to be well behaved in public. Why should they be restricted from enjoying a walk in the park with their dog just because a few owners don’t take responsibility? Rather than ban dogs, we should make it easier to be a responsible owner. Post notices clearly stating the rules of behavior and penalties for failure to meet the criteria. Provide trash bins and complimentary waste disposal bags next to a warning that failure to pick up incurs a healthy fine. Raise the fine, if that’s what it takes, and by all means enforce that law when broken. But don’t enact a punitive, prohibitive law that prevents people and man’s best friends from enjoying our city parks.

If you do, then what next? Should we ban squirrels, rabbits, and birds? There was a possum in our back yard the other day, and I’ve seen raccoons within city limits, too. They also defecate in parks and I don’t see anyone taking the responsibly of picking up after them.

You may have noticed that the titles of the novels in my Street Stories suspense series, Painted Black and Bend Me, Shape Me, are similar to or exactly like the titles of rock songs popular during my youth. I carefully chose the titles for several reasons. In the first place, having titles tied together with a similar theme adds cohesiveness to a book series: the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries come to mind as in M is for Malice and V is for Vengeance.

I thought of 60s and 70s song titles as the consistent element because my protagonist’s father, with whom she has a rocky relationship, would have listened to the songs in his youth. I doubt whether most people will get this reference, however, because I never tie this fact or the song itself in the book contents.

The titles are chosen primarily because they relate to the main street kid in each book. Painted Black is about a homeless graffiti artist who paints in shades of black and gray because it reflects the way he sees the world. Bend Me, Shape Me is about a psychiatrist who twists his patients’ minds to mold them any way he wants to because they are homeless and have no one to stand up for them.

Titles can’t be copyrighted, so there is nothing illegal about using these titles, but some might question my intent. Am I just lazy or unable to come up with original content? Leaving aside the fact that I’ve written and published two other books under Deb Donahue with original titles, I’d like to point out that each book is filled with an average of 60,000 words of completely original content. Surely that outweighs the use of a few words initially coined by others.

Was I hoping that the use of these titles would spark a curiosity that might bring people to read the synopsis and possibly buy the book? Of course, but what book isn’t titled with that same hope, whether it is based on a famous song title, a hackneyed cliché, or an original inspiration?

Did I think of the possibility that someone searching the internet for information on the song itself might come across my book or its website and click on the link to see what the book was about? Again, of course. Marketing campaigns are often targeted hoping to produce similar results. SEO linking in online articles blatantly promotes that idea. But since the plotlines and characters in my books have nothing whatsoever to do with the song lyrics, the title by no means unduly influences them to buy the book once they find it.

Do I want to earn money with these books? I would love to. Do I expect to get rich doing this? Never in a million years. To me, the Street Stories series isn’t about fame or fortune. I have two goals in mind: to build an enjoyable story for my readers, and to show the humanity behind the invisibility of people without homes. If either of these happens, I will be thrilled. If BOTH things happen, well, doing the Snoopy dance won’t come close to covering how excited I’ll be.