A disturbing trend has been developing in Cambridge this year: vandals have been emptying, spraypainting, and even removing Mutt Mitts (poop bag) dispensers from our local parks.

We have been hearing occasional complaints about missing dispensers, which we've passed along to the Department of Public Works each time. According to the DPW, they have not removed any dispensers and are as frustrated as we are- those dispensers are expensive!

For example, even before Pacific Street Park opened this summer, the new Mutt Mitts dispenser had been removed by vandals and had to be replaced. And a resident found a pile of 21 discarded, vandalized dispensers in Dana Park on November 13.

So we need your HELP! If you see that a Mutt Mitts dispenser has disappeared or has been vandalized, let the DPW know about it. Email John Nardone at jnardone@cambridgema.gov (and cc info@cambridgedog.com). And if you see anyone tampering with a dispenser, call the Cambridge Police immediately- this is vandalism and is punishable by law. The Cambridge Police non-emergency number is (617)349-3300, or, in case of emergency, 911.

And while we have your attention, another note about Mutt Mitts. They are great, heavy-duty, easily degradeable bags. And they cost alot of money. The city spends somewhere in the area of $50,000.00 annually providing them for us. So do all of us a favor and bring your own biodegradeable bags (preferably 2 so that you can help someone else out if they don't have one, or pick up after someone less responsible). Let's just use the Mutt Mitts for emergencies- we could really use that 50K for other things.