Living in LoCo
Residents to Pet Owners: Scoop Doggie’s Poop!
Erica Garman at 2:48 p.m., June 16, 2008 (19 comments)
One complaint that is often brought up by residents in planned communities is the inability of some owners to clean up after their pets.
A Mutt Mitt disposal station along a pathway in Broadlands. (Photo by Erica Garman)
It's not such a big deal when the, ahem, poop is in the offender's private yard, but the public outcry comes when random bombs are left in public pathways, common areas where children play, or when doggies leave their presents in neighbors' yards.
My family experienced the effects of irresponsible pet-owner behavior first hand last summer, while enjoying a pleasant evening on the deck. Frustratingly, we smelled the offensive odor, which in the heat is oh-so-distinctive, yet we could not find the source—perhaps it was under the deck or wafting over from a neighbor's yard? After a few days of avoiding the deck, the stink finally went away.
Some communities, like Broadlands, have gone to the expense of posting Mutt Mitt stations along pathways-- plastic bag dispensers and trash containers for dog feces disposal. Even with this convenience, the occasional mess appears on sidewalks or playgrounds—even when the baggie/trash station is a few yards away.
David D'Onofrio, president of the Spring Lakes HOA in Leesburg feels his neighborhood can only do so much when it comes to owners who don't clean up after their pets. Spring Lakes has installed signs and trash barrels to make it easy. "We do all we can," D'Onofrio said, "My advice to residents is to contact animal control directly if they have an issue."
In Loudoun County, not cleaning up after your pet is a class four misdemeanor, fineable up to $200. The problem with enforcing this law, said Laura Rizer, spokeswoman for Loudoun's Animal Care and Control department, is that the offender must be caught "in the act."
Rizer reminds dog owners to always carry a plastic bag (plastic newspaper sleeves and grocery bags work great!) and take the time to clean up after a pet. "Bag it up. Tie it Up. Throw it away," she said. "In the garbage."
Environmentalists warn not to throw dog waste into storm drains, creeks or lakes, as the fecal matter contains harmful pathogens that can impact wildlife and, eww, our drinking water.
How does your neighborhood deal with dog owners who are "fecal offenders?" Do you think violators should receive stiffer penalties?
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Animals go to the bathroom in the woods. Pets should be allowed to also.
Posted by kmccorma (anonymous) on June 16, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the dog poo would add to the ambiance of the sterile cookie cutter neighborhoods. Of course all poo would have to meet both size and color requirements as put forth by the HOA.
Posted by sydnorg (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 6:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I always endeavor to pick up after my dog and agree that is should be enforced and supported by public bag/disposal stations.
However, nothing is done about all the duck and Canadian Goose defecation, particularly around parks and water areas where they breed. The area around the pond at Ashburn Farm Windmill is the worst example I know, the public path is literally caked in it. During Canadian Goose season, their left-behind's are often the size of my god's! This is a health hazard both to our pets and our children.
Posted by Bumblebee (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"During Canadian Goose season, their left-behind's are often the size of my god's!"
-That's a dangerous typo- (chuckle)
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, but not far wrong, ha ha.
Posted by Bumblebee (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would have thought "his" would be bigger than goose crap. Maybe like a redwood log.
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Inability to clean up? Or do you really mean unwillingness?
Posted by backinloco (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The vast majority of dog owners in my neighborhood clean up after their dogs (as do I) but there always seems to be a few who think the rules don't apply to them. I've heard that in an adjacent neighborhood a known repeat 'flouter' found a bag of doggy do in his mailbox one day. He got the message and it apparently solved the problem! As far as geese/duck droppings, the HOAs should clean up their own walkways.
Posted by starburst03 (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone smeared dog doo on my door knob. I found him cleaning it off because he realized that he had the wrong house. He apologized as he cleaned. The blessing for him was that my husband was not home at the time!
Posted by archandpop (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
backinloco: You're correct. "Unwillingness" would be the appropriate word choice here. ~erica
Posted by EricaGarman (Erica Garman) on June 18, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is an issuse for the Board of Supervisors. Lets spend some tax money on research, prevention, enforcement and fines.
Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are lots of companies that specialize in pet waste removal and are contracted by HOA's now. If the problem is bad in your neighborhood ask the HOA to look into it and tack the cost on the HOA fees. If you want to know why YOU should have to pay if you don't own a dog or pick up after your dog, well the same reason people without kids have to pay for the upkeep on playgrounds. This is a neighborhood problem, we dont need the Sherrif to set up a task force on dog poop.
Posted by sydnorg (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Someone smeared dog doo on my door knob"
Are you serious? A grown adult would be this loony?
Get that man a straight jacket (and some Kleenex)
Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 4:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Contracting a pet waste removal company & adding those costs to the HOA fees would never fly. It's not fair and ridiculous! A public awareness campaign might be a better idea (like litter or recycling) and the HOA should fine offenders if it's on HOA property. One possible solution: many pedestrians carry cell phones and can take a quick pic of the offender 'in the act' & pass it along to the HOA. It may only catch just a few but I think some might some think twice about leaving poop in public places.
Posted by starburst03 (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The idea of adding the costs of pet waste removal to HOA fees seems unfair and ridiculous! A real public awareness campaign (flyers, signs, notices) similar to litter & recycling might be a better idea. Also the HOA could fine offenders if it's on HOA property. One possible solution: many pedestrians carry cell phones and could take a quick pic of the 'offender' & pass it along to the HOA. It may only catch a few but might give pause to future offenders once they know there is an informal 'poop patrol'.
Posted by starburst03 (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a devoted dog owners & someone who lives in a planned community we make every effort to clean up after our dog & are tired of hearing about dog crap! How about the adults, teenagers & children who visit the local Starbucks or McDonalds and find that leaving their cups, bags and lids scattered on the walktrails is perfectly acceptable (maybe they do it so they can find their way back ala Hansel & Gretel)? Or the loving moms who visit the tot-lots and leave their various array of snack wrappers on the benches when trash receptables are located conveniently near each tot lot?
Responsible human beings clean up after themselves & their kids & their animals. At the very least dog poo is biodegradble unlike that McDonald's lid.
We appreciate that our HOA provides the Doggie Doo stations and they do a great job maintaining them - we just wish others would pick after themselves & put their trash in them or the other trash receptables provided. If people start with a "poop patrol" then I believe it's only fair to have a "stupid human patrol" reporting all those who litter & fail to tie their trash bags properly on trash collection day!
Posted by ChrisShand (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As for the first post check out The NRDC's point on Dog Poop.
"Density makes a Difference. Wild animals, like a fox, don't need to be picked up after because they don't live on top of one another the way we and our pets do. For example, my dog Toll, shares an apartment house on 3,000 square feet of land with six other dogs and cats."
What they forgot to add at the end was those 6 other cats and dogs owners share the place too. Not everyone loves being around poop. Especially parents with children.
"...pathogens in the poop are dangerous to kids playing in the yard-and anyone else who comes in contact with the ground. They can also contaminate edibles growing in your vegetable garden." I am defending the health of my children... stiffer penalties should take place. Pick up your dog poop or don't have one if you can't handle the responsibilities.
Posted by jkreams (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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