Trip #228 Emerald Way, Allentown, Pittsburgh took place on December 7, 2018, and was published on December 21, 2018.
A growling dog can instill fear, a barking dog can try your patience, but the sound of crying dogs will break your heart. I so rarely encounter expressions of sadness on my stairway travels that the haunting, sorrowful sound completely unnerves me. If you come across a person who is in emotional distress, you can approach them, ask them if they need help, but when a message is delivered by animals from behind a fence, your communication is rendered impotent, useless. If anything, my presence seems only to exacerbate their pain, so I reluctantly move along murmuring quiet words of empathy. But regrettably, I feel that’s not much and certainly not enough.
Field Notes: The street’s in a bit of turmoil – road all chopped up for PWSA work, lots of trash on the ground, and some crying dogs that appeared to be kept in a large shed in a fenced-in backyard. Not a good vibe today!
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
