City officials in Manhattan are warning dog owners they’ll have to pay up if they don’t pick up as residents complain of dog poop piling up on city sidewalks.
City Councilman Erik Bottcher, who represents parts of Manhattan including Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, said on Friday that the Sanitation Department’s Canine Task Force will be assigning more agents to his district to enforce the "pooper scooper" law.
The law, which was passed in 1978, requires dog owners and walkers to pick up after their pets. Violators face a $250 fine.
“My office is getting a lot of calls from residents who are really upset about having to dodge piles of dog poop on the sidewalk,” Bottcher said in a statement. “People need to start being responsible and pick up after their dogs. If they’re going to walk away without picking up after their dog, they should get a ticket. The increased presence of inspectors should get people to think twice about their behavior.”
Bottcher's office said they will also begin a public awareness campaign. The words “There Is No Poop Fairy" will be displayed on LinkNYC kiosks across Council District 3, and messaging will be shared on social media too.
“Keeping New York City clean is a ruff job, and any New York dog owner who thinks they can ignore their responsibilities is barking up the wrong tree,” Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. "Our enforcement agents may not collar people over this, but they won’t just roll over, either – they will write tickets."