Those Aren’t Tulips! …
About the only thing I have found I dislike about Montpelier is the amount of dog doo left lying about. There is less and less grass area were we can safely walk our dogs without having to worry about any of us treading in something. And these aren’t small dogs either. Sometimes I wonder if someone is secretly housing an elephant in town. From what I have heard it gets worse as winter goes on, and that come mud season the melting snow revels more than just crocuses.
It is not only gross, it is illegal. Below is the information from Section 8-210 [PDF] entitled “DEFECATION.”
(a) The person in control of any dog which defecates in a public park, walkway, sidewalk, street, public way, playground, cemetery, school grounds, state property or on private property shall remove such material immediately and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. This provision shall not apply to private property used without objection of the property owner or to off-trail, wooded areas of public parks.
A month ago we were yellled at by one business person because he was fed up with people’s dogs crapping on the property. At the time I was picking up after someone else’s dog, but any attempt I made to explain this to the person fell on deaf ears—and blind eyes since I was obviously picking up a mess and not abandoning one. But I understand his frustrations.
Since that event I have made an effort to have a baggie in view as I wander around mumbling “go potty” to my companions, simply because I hate the looks of those people who also are fed up with the messes left behind in Mont-poo-lier.
Rick – you really make me laugh sometimes! How long did it take you to find the poop ordinance? I say poop on people who don’t clean up after their dogs!!!
I say poop on people who don’t clean up after their dogs!!!
That’s probably aggravated assault
If you are interested in this issue, you might appreciate the signs around Lake Champlain that explain how fecal matter from dogs contaminates the water. One nice example is located at North Beach, a Burlington city park.
Thanks Lene.
I think what I find most frustrating is that it is nearly impossible to catch the people who alllow this to happen. I assume they either walk their animals at times when they are unlikely to be seen (and therefore caught), but I also have to assume that they must have bags with them sometimes just in case they get seen. *shrug*
The most frustrating thing is that we have to be more vigilant than just minding our step, because sometimes the dogs think the poo left behind smells good enough to eat, making it a health hazard to other animals as well. *sigh*
Thank you for picking up after your dog. You will know when it’s spring in Montpelier, because all the dogshit will thaw out and start smelling up the streets–especially Stonecutter’s Way.
Michael’s right. If you think the poo is bad now, wait until the thaw. The number of land minds that line the sidewalks and grass strips are mind boggling. It truly amazes me. But it’s similar (but grosser and more dangerous) in action to the throwing of cigarette buts; and they are everywhere. I appreciate your diligence in picking up after your little ones.
When you figure out how to clean up Montpelier, let me know! The Netherlands has an annual dog-tax to help pay for a clean-up crew, but there is still plenty of evidence left on the sidewalks of the popularity of dogs!
Well Rick be thankful you don’t live in NYC. You’d be astounded that even though there’s signage everywhere about curbing your dog/picking up after them.. people allow their animals to crap right in the street and on the sidewalks… (people that can’t pick up don’t deserve pets).