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CNG Boro Politics

War of dogs v. roses claims a gardener

By Ariella Cohen
The Brooklyn Paper

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A veteran gardener has decided to quit rather than fight Fulton Landing dog owners, whose pets’ urine is damaging exotic grasses, herbs and flowers along Old Fulton Street.

Rose Nordenbrook has become the first non-plant casualty in this long-festering battle. The volunteer gardener, who maintained the lushly planted traffic median at the intersection of Old Fulton Street and Front Street for seven years, submitted her letter of resignation last week to the Fulton Ferry Landing Association.

She said walkers and owners who use the garden as “toilets” left her no other option than to step down.

“Seeing the plants burned by the ammonia in the pee … is very upsetting,” wrote Nordenbrook, adding that she often found herself “working in two separate piles of feces.”

“It was not pleasant,” she wrote in the letter to Association President Joan Zimmerman.

The award-winning gardener’s surrender has already sent trickles of fear though the posh area, where new luxury condo developments have brought a veritable Noah’s Ark of designer dogs to the neighborhood.

“We fought for these gardens a decade ago, and they are not dog runs,” said Katrin Adams, a board member of the Fulton Ferry Landing group. “I am not sure who will take care of the garden now and make sure it isn’t [destroyed] by the dogs.”

And at least one dog walker agreed that the gardeners have a point.

“There is definitely more poo in the area,” said Cynthia Barnett, owner of DUMBO Pet Care.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the grass starts getting burned at the parks in DUMBO because there are so many more dogs there.”

Barnett said she avoids walking her brood anywhere near plants because of the animals’ greenery-killing expulsions.

“Plus, most dog prefer fire hydrants or poles,” she said.

©2007 The Brooklyn Paper

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