My Scoop on the Poop

Let this be said up front. I live with a dog, and we have from time-to-time, taken walks together in the city's streets and parks.

There. You know my bias.

And here's my point:  I really don't think this is as big a problem as people want to believe.

Now, let me say, I have been to Atwood Park, the apparent epicenter of the conflict that might lead to a hike in fines charged to negligent dog owner who don't pick up after the dogs. Therefore, I'll accept that poop is a problem at that particular park.

But to suggest that we have a city-wide problem with dog poop is misleading. I walk our streets frequently, and there's not nearly the problem that statements in news reports would have us believe. A faraway reader of these articles would be left to conclude that our city streets are strewn with dog pies, and that's not true. It simply isn't.

However, dog poop rankles people. The very sighting of a pile of poop fires up the same part of the brain that is annoyed by people squawking on cell phone. It's an undeniable signal that one person has no consideration for others. An unclaimed poop is a tiny, smelly monument to selfishness and disregard for other beings on this planet.

So, in most cases, the prevalence and actual footprint of dog poop is exaggerated to reflect that moral outrage. But I'm certain 90% of the dog owners in this town are careful and responsible.

In fact, I thought Councillor-At-Large Ari Herzog posted an interesting fact in his July 13 post on poop:

84 dog offenses were investigated in city parks, on the rail trail, and on Plum Island beach by animal control officers between May 1 and June 26. The crux of the offenses involved dogs without leashes, a separate $25 fine. No fines were given during this period involving the subject of this ordinance.

 If the majority of the calls involved dogs off leashes, this changes the composite sketch of a negligent dog owner. We're not talking about a dog owner who watches his or her dog complete their business and walks away. Instead, we're talking about absentee dog owners who might not know what their dog is up to. So if the "crux of the offenses" is involving leash law violations, why isn't that fine being hiked?

Anyway, back to the matter being discussed. I'm all for the fine hike, but only if we identify dog poop for what it is - litter.

Let's jack up the fee for all littering, which is a far larger problem for this city. Smack the fellow who tosses aside his Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee Cup with the same $100 fine that I'd be hit with if I left my dog's mess behind. Same goes for the downtown merchant standing who insists on tossing her cigarette butts onto Pleasant Street before heading back into her store.

I'm sure this won't be considered because it's politically easier to target a small percentage of the population, but if we really want a cleaner city let's take some bolder steps.