Dogs will have their day at Janesville Farmers Market
JANESVILLE — Starting today, you can bring your pooch to the Janesville Farmers Market, with a few strings attached: If your dog’s too big to carry, it’ll need a leash.
And a muzzle.
The farmers market board on Thursday approved allowing dogs at the market, which runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through October in downtown Janesville.
Market board member Terry Nolan said the board decided on the following conditions:
n Dogs must be held on a non-retractable leash with a maximum length of 6 feet.
n Large dogs must remain muzzled. Small dogs do not require a muzzle, provided they’re carried by their owners. The market recommends using basket muzzles, which allow dogs to pant and drink water.
n Service dogs are exempt from leash and muzzle requirements.
Nolan said the market board and Theresa Feiner, market director, have gotten many requests and complaints this year from people who want to bring their dogs, which the market had previously not allowed.
Nolan said some customers warned that they’d take their business elsewhere if they couldn’t bring their dogs to the market. She said the nine-member market board decided it was time for a compromise.
“We certainly don’t want to make people feel unwelcome,” Nolan said. “We’ve heard people say, ‘Well, Beloit allows dogs, so we’ll just go there.’ We don’t want to turn people away from our market.”
Nolan said the board considers the muzzle a necessary compromise to allow dogs at the market. She said it’s to prevent possible violent confrontations between dogs, which she said is a danger to customers and the market’s 40 to 50 vendors.
Repeat violators of the policy will be asked to leave the market, Nolan said.
“It’s really the dog-versus-dog fights that we’ve witnessed,” Nolan said.
Nolan said the board wants to keep the policy as simple as possible, and she said the market would distribute information on the dog policy today and at upcoming market dates.
Jul 25, 2011 at 10:25 a.m.
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For the early posters. I guess you better stay off of any public sidewalks!
The muzzel thing is stupid.
If the dog is on a 6 foot leasc just stay 7 feet away from the dog. They aren't going to bother you.
The whole no dog thing is stupid. If you don't like them stay away. Simple.
I went to Beloit farmers market Saterday. WOW is all I can say. Shops also open downtown. WAY more booths. I would say JVL is about 1/3 the size of Beloit and people all over the place. I also went to the Janesville one and had great breakfast at Looking GLass.
Jul 25, 2011 at 9:52 a.m.
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I'll preface my comment with the fact that we have always had large, friendly dogs -- all well behaved and trained but never would we take them to a Farmer's Market, parade, or festival. The Farmer's Market in our small town requires that dogs be on a "short" leash and well behaved. However, last week while I was looking at vegetables, a large dog's "short" leash wrapped around my legs (thank goodness I didn't fall)and the owner was not friendly or apologetic. Guess I should know better than to step inside the leash as it winds around my legs? Shortly after that two dogs -- both on leashes -- started fighting. One owner laughed and said how cute it was -- in the middle of a crowded Farmer's Market. Remember, too, that the dog's face is just about level with the face of that cute kid in the stroller -- the one with cookie crumbs all over his face. Please folks, for the sake of the dogs and of the people, leave your pets home!
Jul 25, 2011 at 9:22 a.m.
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The best behaved dog can and will become agitated in a crowd.Dogs don't belong at ANY kind of festival,it's hot and too many people that have no idea on how to approach a strange animal.Safety first when it comes to my dogs is always best in my book.
Jul 25, 2011 at 8:21 a.m.
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Did you see anyone buy that zucchini?
Jul 25, 2011 at 7:55 a.m.
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Just visited the Rock County Farmers market, where old ladies bring their tiny dogs. One dog urinated on a bucket of zucchinis, and the owner didn't do anything.
Jul 25, 2011 at 6:34 a.m.
Jul 25, 2011 at 6:01 a.m.
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nobody wants to see your dog...leave it at home..
Jul 24, 2011 at 5:08 p.m.
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I LOVE dogs, own a couple, BUT the last thing I want at a Farmer's market is any dog,relieving it self in such close proximity to food stuff...really the Janesville market is way too narrow and small for for several people much less dogs on leashes...and all dogs should be on leashes according to Janesville ordinances...muzzles????....who would do that to their dog just to pick up a few fresh tomatoes????? Sorry the dogs belong at home where they are comfy and not MUZZLED!!!! JMO
Jul 24, 2011 at 4:24 p.m.
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I think some of you need to read the article more carefully. The muzzle request is due to concern over dog vs dog confrontations, not dogs attacking people. If your dog is small enough to carry, it doesn't need a muzzle. Dogs too big to carry and therefore on a level to meet up with another dog, require a muzzle. And often, in the process of breaking up a dog fight, people get bitten.
I'm a dog owner, but I wouldn't take my dogs to the Farmer's Market, or any other function downtown, any more than I would take them to the grocery store. It's on hot pavement and crowded with people. I've seen dogs at the market that were obviously not thrilled about being there. They were panting excessively, jumpy and ill at ease with the noise and crowds. They are happier and more comfortable at home. If you want to walk your dog, it would be better to stick to parks and trails where they are allowed.
Jul 24, 2011 at 12:06 p.m.
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I've seen more kids acting HORRIBLE than dogs at the Farmer's Market. Why not make them wear leashes?
Jul 24, 2011 at 10:57 a.m.
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Whoops. I'm sure the market manager will have to ask twice for the pay raise. Might as well post the question twice.
Jul 24, 2011 at 10:55 a.m.
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Hey JFM board, are you giving the market manager a pay raise for this extra enforcement duty?.......I thought so
Jul 24, 2011 at 10:52 a.m.
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Hey JFM board, are you giving the market manager a pay raise for all this extra enforcement duty? ....I thought so
Jul 24, 2011 at 10:43 a.m.
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I've been to the Janesville Farmers Market every Saturday this year. Each week I've seen dogs there before Theresa politely told the owners that dogs weren't allowed, and I've never seen any problems that the dogs (or owners) created.
Jul 24, 2011 at 10:40 a.m.
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I don't understand why it's so important to bring your dog. Why can't they just stay home? They don't go to work or school with you - they don't go to grocery stores - why do they have to be drug along to the Farmers' Market? What's next? Bring Your Ferret Day?
Jul 24, 2011 at 10:22 a.m.
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I can't wait til a board member steps in a pile of dog poop at the market. No mention on being responsible for deposits huh ?
Jul 24, 2011 at 9:16 a.m.
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I no longer will be attending the Janesville
Farmer's Market.
Jul 24, 2011 at 8:34 a.m.
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Opinion, you stay with your dog in Colorado. Thats probably where your Mom has a basement spot for you to live. Dogs have no place around my food. My money won't be spent at markets that allow dogs.
Jul 24, 2011 at 7:08 a.m.
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A muzzle? What a crock. I would never subject any of my dogs to a muzzle simply so I could take them out into a situation where they clearly are not welcome anyway. I never tried to take my dogs there or wanted to take my dogs there but this decision makes me never want to go to the Janesville Farmer's Market myself again. What bunch of rocket scientists thought this stupid, cruel and senseless rule would reflect positively on the market or the people who run it? This decision was made under the guise of being accommodating to dog lovers when clearly it is merely just another means to deter people from bringing pets. They should have just left the ban in place to begin with and avoided all of the negative publicity and fall-out this boneheaded decision is going to bring. I'm appalled with the board. I'll still going to leave my dogs at home when I go to the Farmer's Market but next weekend I'm going to Beloit instead. Sounds to me like the Farmer's Market Board members are the ones who need to be muzzled if this is evidence of the quality of their decision making.
Jul 24, 2011 at 2:25 a.m.
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yeah... I dont get the BIG dog rule.. I am a proud owner of a 16 pound shelter dog... and even though I adore her she is crazy... I cannot take her anywhere... I would never get rid of her but she will remain at home... I have seen dogs 4 times her size with better behavior... Even if a dog is great with people that is no sign of them being good with other dogs... Size has no bearing on dog behavior..
Jul 23, 2011 at 11:56 p.m.
Jul 23, 2011 at 9:58 p.m.
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I HAVE A PUG, HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO FIND A MUZZLE FOR ONE OF THEM
Jul 23, 2011 at 9:15 p.m.
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What does the Rock County Health Dept. have to say about dogs contaminating food being sold for human consumption? Maybe the crack team of reporters at the Gazette can find out for us.
Jul 23, 2011 at 9:06 p.m.
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Never been to the Beloit market because I don't want to witness "bum sniff" with food purchase. Won't be going to Janesville either from now on. Have job and have money. Vendors at dog-free markets will benifit.
Jul 23, 2011 at 8:42 p.m.
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You folks in Janesville are a bunch of whiners. Beloit has never had a problem with dogs at their Farmers Market. Narrow minded people with narrow minded restrictions!
Jul 23, 2011 at 8:21 p.m.
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The farmer's market is pretty narrow already; a busy day with leashes going every which way is going to be chaotic. As a dog owner, I won't bring mine there-what's the point? We will only be there 5-10 minutes to get what we need. I think my dog can survive at home. However, I do agree with other posters about it being unfair to only target large dogs as being required to have a muzzle.
Jul 23, 2011 at 6:37 p.m.
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I am confounded about the reasoning only big dogs need muzzles??? Ask anybody who works with dogs and they will tell you the little ones are more apt to bark and bite than the big ones. And who decides/enforced what constitutes "big"? Make a uniform policy and stick with it, if you need to muzzle your dog, you shouldn't be bringing it into a public area.
Jul 23, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
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Tusker, I am with you. Just because a person owns a dog doesn't mean that the dog needs to be allowed everywhere the owner goes. There are people who do not particularly care for dogs, they make them feel uncomfortable. I am a dog owner, and I love her dearly, but she is fine with staying home while I do other things. I believe there is a time and a place to have your dog with you, and the Farmer's Market is not an appropriate place. Of course, this is my own personal opinion.
Jul 23, 2011 at 6:17 p.m.
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Too bad. The one big thing that Janesville's market had going for it over Beloit's was no dogs allowed here. As you can guess, I am not a dog person.....
Jul 23, 2011 at 5:45 p.m.
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Well I don't bring my dogs to the farmers market, but I think it's horrible to put a muzzle on a dog. I have dogs of all sizes and if someone told me to muzzled them I would never go there.
Jul 23, 2011 at 5:10 p.m.
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ALL dogs should be leashed... Isn't it a city ordiance that all dogs must be leashed? As for a muzzle why? Beloit market does not require that and there have been NO problems, walking down the sidewalk does not require it, so why at the Janesville market? Is there someone on the board may have a vested intrest in selling these basket muzzles???
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