Oyster Harbor is a racially integrated community located on the Annapolis Neck. Historically the site of Black family vacation homes, Oyster Harbor and the surrounding communities are now a melting pot. Many residents are retirees, several are the descendants of Black homeowners, and there are many White yuppie families of four (...with a cat, etc.). Despite this diverse population, street signage within Oyster Harbor largely caters to yet another population: dogs. Accordingly, we have two beaches so as to properly distinguish who is welcome, when, and where. Specifically, we have a human beach and a dog beach. (Socialization is encouraged at the dog beach on Thursday nights, affectionately termed "Yappy Hour," similar to the humans' "Happy Hour.") Along with those distinctions, there are signs throughout the community addressed to the four-legged population...or better yet, for the caregivers thereof. And, as you will note, the signage has a humor all its own, with specific language that is on that "lower" level.
1. "Poop Happens... Deal with it!" and " DOGI POT"
"Poop Happens" is clearly a play on "shit happens." This is a semi light-hearted yet serious attempt to get owners to clean up after their pets.
"Dogi Pot" clearly uses "dogi" a fun alternate spelling of "doggy" and "pot" is a cuter sounding word than "bin" or "barrel" or "basket."
2. "Mutt Mitt"
Use of alliteration with M and M. Also, both words have only four letters and are monosyllabic. Use of alternation. Both words end in the T sound and both end with TT.
The whole thing is fun to say, and is again, a polite yet blunt attempt to get owners to clean up after their pets.
3. "Harbormaster" (with a dog bowl with water in it at the base of the door)
Perhaps this one doesn't work out as a "sign" exactly, but it is a hint of Annapolis culture, in that dogs are welcome here, and treated well. Kind of like there are playgrounds for children, Oyster Harbor has places for dogs, and this is clearly one of them.
Another example of this is at a residence in the Arundel-on-the-Bay community on Narraganset Street. The folks who own the home where this bowl rests by the mailbox don't even own a dog! But, they want all of their four-legged friends to know that they are more than welcome to have a drink. Their granddaughter once even ran out to greet my dog Lucy not just with water, but with ice water!! The moment was so memorable it is captured here...
4. "Dog & Kayak Wash"
Again, as a testament to Annapolis culture and the "other" members of the Oyster Harbor community, there is a place for our furry friends to get a bath. It's a place that is all theirs, where they are welcome.
5. "Bark Box - Take 1, Give 1"
This is a curious one to me, as these boxes showed up right during the breakout of the pandemic. They are called "Bark Boxes" and have tennis balls and other toys for dogs to play with. There are about five at different locations in the community. This one is at Fishing Creek (Dog) Beach. The box instructs owners to use the toys and donate toys. It's reminiscent of those ashtrays in gas stations that say "leave a penny, take a penny." Somehow, these Bark Boxes were really welcomed in the community, despite the potential spread of germs not from dog slobber, but from the human handling of toys. Interestingly enough, no one has complained about their presence during the pandemic. Quite the contrary, the boxes have been a welcome addition to Oyster Harbor locations by all residents...especially the four-legged ones, who are clearly a "small minority" but by size only, not population...
6. Woofs Welcome
While residents of Oyster Harbor are rather neighborly and friendly, some (like the author of this blog) actually prefer the furry variety of friends over the human ones that are actually peers. Such notices stating as much include the one featured in the author's window.
7. For Hoomans...
In case a doggy's hooman needs to do their duty, there are a couple options at the community beaches. These "gotügo" porta potties are rented from a company out of Glen Burnie, Maryland. Reviewing the company's website, you find that there is no connection between the name and European heritage. The umlaut is there clearly for marketing value. If you enter "gotügo" into Google Translate, it shows up as working from "English-detected" to "English" with no variation at all. The company's name is clearly a made-up word that sounds like "gotta go" in English. The suggestion here is that you "gotta go" in a hurry - in a porta potty - because you don't have time to hold it to make it to a "real" bathroom.
(No idea where Fido will be...but probably still on leash on the other side of the door, standing guard...)
8. Chesapeake Walk
Residents in Oyster Harbor are very expressive. Just as we share the view of the Chesapeake Bay with our neighbors, we also share our thoughts and opinions. One particularly interesting retired neighbor of mine in the Arundel-on-the-Bay community and his wife display many flags on their pier. Most of the flags are of the U.S. dating back to the country's infancy. But, of course, because it's an election year, you'll see some red, white and blue political flags with say, a donkey, or the rhyming "Dump Trump."
My dog Lucy can be seen strolling along Chesapeake Walk here, in front of their home, with the Americana and political flags behind her...
These lovely neighbors are known for throwing "Blue Angels" parties every May, when the jets are out doing practice runs in advance of the graduation at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. On their pier, the neighbors will put out signs in blue and gold letters that read "G-O-N-A-V-Y-!". The couple calls it "Angel bait," in the hopes that the sign and flags will lure the pilots down to the pier in close range. It often works too! you can see the flags in detail, along with a couple of the Blue Angels... (Unfortunately, this was a hoomans-only event...)
9. Doggy Mailboxes
Another favorite stop of Lucy's is my gal pal's house, where she gets to check out the mailbox with all of her furry friends on it. Just like all of the water bowls seen at Fishing Creek (Dog) Beach and the driveway in Arundel-on-the-Bay, these painted mailboxes featuring Man's Best Friend demonstrate that the residences are dog-friendly homes and likely have doggies as members of the family...
10. Help Yourself Dog Treats
One stop that is no longer available to fur balls due to Covid-19 is the doggy mailbox in Arundel-on-the-Bay, that offered up free snacks of multiple varieties.
Before the pandemic, Lucy had her choice of milk bones, chicken, and beef. But, in the new normal, unfortunately, the treat is no longer in the mail...
11. Together
As you can see, wigglebutts are a large part of the Oyster Harbor community on the Annapolis Neck.
Sometimes, no sign is necessary. Time spent with Fido out on the water is all you need. The bonding, the quiet, and gazing out at the sunset together is one of the best moments to share with your woof in this world...
As you can see, wigglebutts are a large part of the Oyster Harbor community on the Annapolis Neck.
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