Pick Up Dog Waste On Streets And In Park

The Laurelhurst Blog regularly receives comments regarding neighbors not picking up after their dogs on the streets and in the  park.

Neighbors commented:

Please remember to only use the waste cans that are either yours or ones furnished by the City. The waste cans at the bus stops are not to be used for the disposal of  dog waste.  Notices have been placed on the Metro waste cans to not use them for pet waste.

Please dog owners, use your own garbage can to dispose of your pet's poo. I don't appreciate your calling card in my can.

Please be respectful and clean up after your dogs, especially in driveway approaches and sidewalks.  Watch if your dog stops instead of continuing to keep jogging or walking and pick up the waste.  

Recently in the park and on the streets around Laurelhurst Elementary there has been an increase in pet waste in the pedestrian areas.    

There seems to be an increase of dog owners not picking up waste in the neighborhood and also on the paths in the park.  We regularly pick up other dogs' feces each time we see it.  It is our expectation, and per Seattle City law, that dog owners pick up after their pets, no exceptions. 

Please be courteous and clean up after your pet. We have a great neighborhood to take walks and children to play.  Let's all do our part in keeping our neighborhood a pleasant environment for all of us. 

We have lived in this area for over three decades  and are noticing more and more that people are not scooping up after their dogs. We have stepped in it several times in the lawn in front of our house. Please pick up after your dog.  

Please pick up after your dogs, it is your YOUR responsibility, no one else's, Don't be lazy. It is hazardous, neglectful and not courteous.

Seattle Public Utilities reports on their website: 

We have more than 125,000 dogs and 60,000 outdoor cats in Seattle. That amounts to about 50,000 lbs of pet waste every day.

Left on streets, curb strips and in yards and parks, pet waste can be carried by rainwater to storm drains and into our creeks, lakes and Puget Sound without treatment. It is one of the leading causes of bacterial contamination in our streams and causes other water quality problems just like livestock manure and fertilizer. 

There are bacteria and micro-organisms in pet waste such as Roundworms, E. coli, and Giardia that can make people sick if they’re ingested. Some can last in your yard for as long as four years if not cleaned up.  

Children who play outside and adults who garden are at greatest risk of infection. If pet waste is washed into the storm drain it ends up in lakes, streams or marine water, and people can accidentally swallow bacteria and other disease-causing organisms while swimming or playing in the water. These bacteria also end up in shellfish, and can make the people who eat them very sick. 

Put pet waste in a plastic bag, seal it, and throw it in the garbage- not in the yard waste! There are also Mutt Mitt (pdf) dispensers located around the City. The next time you're out walking your pet, take advantage of this free resource to help keep our waterways clean. 

There are laws in Seattle to protect our health and our environment which require pet waste to be picked up and disposed of properly.

Here are applicable Seattle City laws relating to Offenses of Safety and Sanitation:

• $109 Allowing accumulation of feces SMC 9.25.082 (A)
• $54 Not removing feces from another’s property SMC 9.25.0822 (B)
• $54 Not having equipment to remove feces  SMC 9.25.082 (C)
• $54 In Parks: Failure to carry equipment for removing feces OR failure to place feces in appropriate receptacle. SMC 18.12.080 (C)

Go here for more information.

More Neighbors Urge Dog Owners To Keep Dogs Leashed And Pick Up Waste

Following our post last week about off-leash dogs as well as dog owners not picking up their dog's waste we received the following comments:

We are so annoyed with dog poop on our parking strip.  Please keep your dogs on leash and clean up their mess!

Bravo! I totally agree. Many dogs have frightened my four year old. I am also fed up with hearing about how friendly the dog is. Please keep your dog on its leash.   

Off leash dogs are a real problem in Laurelhurst Park and on the neighborhood streets. Some people seem to think they are above the law. It is disgusting how they allow their pets to crap in the park and on the street or wherever and just leave it. The poor little child who was approached by a large dog. That fear may be with him for his entire life.  The dog may be harmless but all dogs can be aggressive, especially where food is concerned.   

I’ve heard dog owners say “Wow, he’s never done that before”.....Surprise! Many time I’ve noticed a woman with a dog off leash walking by our house, dog running back and forth into the neighbors’ well tended planting beds. The dog owner (the law breaker)  had the leash around her neck. Couldn’t resist: I said “I think the leash is supposed to be around the dog”. She was so offended but doesn’t seem to understand that the leash is for the safety of the dog. Then there are the people who say “Dogs should be free”. I reply with “then why do you own one”? Enough said. 

I want to encourage people to take their dogs to Magnuson Dog Park. It is less than a ten minute drive away and is one of the best dog parks-- if not the best dog park--in the state. We are so fortunate to live so close to this off leash area, and it is a great place to take your dog for exercise.  

I agree, it is not safe to have your dog off leash at Laurelhurst Playfield/Park. If some dogs are leashed (as they should be) and others are not, this can sometimes be a volatile mix for the poor dogs.  

If people have dogs that do not walk well on a leash, I encourage them to think about taking their dogs to classes at Seattle Humane Society--it is right across the 520, just a 20 minute drive from Laurelhurst and the classes are GREAT! You are also supporting the Humane Society when you take a class there. 

Thanks for the reminder of picking-up dog waste.....however if a neighbors garbage can is quite close, what's wrong with throwing the waste bag into a close garbage can????  I do not have a dog and I would not be upset if a neighbor used my garbage can, better than throwing it into someones garden!!!!    

Laurelhurst Blog response:We understand that is against City Code to put your garbage in someone else's trash can for various reasons - it is not their garbage, you are trespassing on their property, and you are not paying them to take away the garbage you put in there, (also known as "theft of service") and also it does not seem neighborly, especially if the person whose garbage can you are using does not have a dog. It is best to throw away your dog's feces in your own garbage. Or if a neighbor uses your garbage for their dog feces, then perhaps you have ok'd that, but it is not ok to assume that everyone is ok with that.

Here are some pertinent City codes:

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CODE&s1=21.36.440.snum.&Sect5=CODE1&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=/~public/code1.htm&r=1&f=G

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CODE&s1=21.36.922.snum.&Sect5=CODE1&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=%2F%7Epublic%


And here again is list of City Municipal Codes and corresponding violations for not picking up dog waste with fine amounts imposed by the City of Seattle:

Offenses Related to Safety and Sanitation
$109 Allowing accumulation of feces SMC 9.25.082 (A)
$54 Not removing feces from another’s property SMC 9.25.082 (B)
$54 Not having equipment to remove feces  SMC 9.25.082 (C)

 

 

Neighbors Plea (Again) To Dog Owners To PIck Up Dog Waste

The Laurelhurst Blog often receives emails and posts about residents frustrated over dog owners not picking up after their dogs.

 

Neighbors have complained about walking in the waste, finding waste in their yard and seeing dog owners walk away from their dog's waste and not picking it up.

 

Here is a related list of City Municipal Codes and corresponding violations with fine amounts imposed by the City of Seattle:

Offenses Related to Safety and Sanitation
$109 Allowing accumulation of feces SMC 9.25.082 (A)
$54 Not removing feces from another’s property SMC 9.25.082 (B)
$54 Not having equipment to remove feces  SMC 9.25.082 (C)

Here is a recent email received:

We live around 42^nd Avenue NE and it’s time for another friendly reminder to all

dog owners to please pick up after their dog and take the dog waste with them.  

Throwing the plastic bag full of dog poop into a neighbor’s flower bed is gross, unacceptable, rude, disgusting and against the law.   

If your dog poops in your neighbor’s yard, it is your responsibility to clean it up and take it with you. It’s so awful, especially with kids. 

 Do not put it in your neighbor’s garbage can or yard waste or flower bed. Be a decent person, and take it with you and dispose of it properly.

 

More Readers Unhappy About Dog Owners Not Picking Up Waste

Last month, we posted about meighbors who are frustrated with dog owners not picking up after their dogs. Neighbors have complained about walking in the waste, finding waste in their yard and seeing dog owners walk away from their's dogs waste and not picking it up.

Here are comments we received since that post:

Thank you for your post on the problem of dog feces left on properties. I have a regular deposit on my lawn on Surber Drive.  Since I usually get my newspaper at 4:30 am, I was able to witness a runner with his off leash dog pooing in my yard one morning. So early morning runners with off leash dogs are now suspect to me. It is much more difficult to get away with this in daylight.

I have a regular deposit on my lawn on Surber Drive.  Since I usually get my newspaper at 4:30 am, I was able to witness a runner with his off leash dog pooing in my yard one morning. So early morning runners with off leash dogs are now suspect to me.  It is much more difficult to get away with this in daylight.

Most dog walkers always clean up and have their dog under leash control.  But these few are being disrespectful to the whole community.

We live on 47th Avenue NE and NE 39th Street and off leash dogs also leave deposits in the middle of my front yard. I have unwittingly stepped in it and tracked it into my house.  I do not own any pets. How do we get neighbors to be more responsible?

Please pick up the dog poo! Especially at the park. And not just because kids play there.

Many years ago when my kids were young I started down the hill from the community center to the play area and slipped on dog poo. I ended up with a broken ankle, which required a cast for six weeks.

Here is a related list of City Municpal Codes and corresponding violations with fine amouts imposed by the City of Seattle:

Offenses Related to Safety and Sanitation
$109 Allowing accumulation of fecesSMC 9.25.082 (A)
$54 Not removing feces from another’s propertySMC 9.25.082 (B)
$54 Not having equipment to remove fecesSMC 9.25.082 (C)

Here is a similar post published last year.

Neighbor Near Laurelhurst Elementary Urges Dog Owners To Pick Up After Them

We received this email from a reader urging dog owners to pick up after their dogs:

I am tired of dodging dog poo every morning and afternoon on my way to and from Laurelhurst ElementarySchool.The dog poop appears all over the sidewalk several times a week, usually on both sides of  NE 50th Street and 46th Avenue NE.  So I know it’s a regular neighborhood resident and a big dog, judging from the amount of waste.

This intersection is on the way to both Villa Academy and Laurelhurst Elementary School, so there is a lot of foot traffic and it’s often tracked even further by unsuspecting soles.

 I believe it is a dog owner’s legal responsibility to pick up after their dogs. Dog feces are a public health hazard due to the parasites and germs that they can spread.

It’s bad enough that our kids step in it while playing on fields at parks, but when they have to dodge it on the sidewalks on the way to and from school.

I am pretty certain it’s a small percentage of owners who are at fault and in our case, possibly even the same dog, given that the poo is always on the sidewalk on the east side of 47th Avenue NE and NE 50th Street intersection.

In the case of the owner(s) allowing their dogs to leave waste all over the sidewalk, it is  irresponsible and inconsiderate.

Here is a related list of City Municpal Codes and corresponding violations with fine amouts imposed by the City of Seattle:

Offenses Related to Safety and Sanitation
$109 Allowing accumulation of fecesSMC 9.25.082 (A)
$54 Not removing feces from another’s propertySMC 9.25.082 (B)
$54 Not having equipment to remove fecesSMC 9.25.082 (C)

Here is a similar post published last year.

Pick Up After Your Dogs Reader Requests, City Can Impose Fines

We received this email from a reader urging dog owners to pick up after their dogs:

I would like to call attention to the fact that folks in Laurelhurst seem to be more lax than usual about picking up after their dogs.  Walk the average block in the neighborhood and one can find numerous examples of un-picked-up dog poop. 

Once you start paying attention to it, it is really astounding.  It would sure be nice to have a neighborhood where folks could confidently walk on a strip of lawn at night or during the day without scanning the ground to avoid a gross mess. 

Please post a reminder for folks to be more responsible.

The City of Seattle imposes fines if feces are not picked up.  Here is a related list of  City Municpal Codes and corresponding violations:

Offenses Related to Safety and Sanitation
$109 Allowing accumulation of fecesSMC 9.25.082 (A)
$54 Not removing feces from another’s propertySMC 9.25.082 (B)
$54 Not having equipment to remove fecesSMC 9.25.082 (C)