Friday, January 22, 2010

Here's The Scoop -- Pick It Up!

A reader writes: "I live on the 900 block of W. Argyle and I have noticed a very disgusting trend as of late … People are failing to pick up their dog poop all over the place. On Sunday, I barely avoided the dog doo-doo that someone had just left sitting on the curb next to where I parked (which was very difficult due to the icy conditions). Then as I was walking east down Argyle this morning to my bus, I saw at least four different piles of dog poop both on the grass and on the sidewalk! (And I wasn’t even looking for them, I just happened to notice as I was walking down the street). I was wondering if you could please post a reminder to people to clean up after their dogs (even though everyone should know this if they are responsible dog owners). This trend is extremely disgusting and unsanitary and will attract all kinds of critters I do not want around my house (like rats, mice, and roaches)."

17 comments:

  1. Amen!

    The lazy, irresponsible and completely inconsiderate folks who don't pick it up are making those who do look bad.

    As an aside, I'd also like to remind folks not to just leave their garbage on the parkways.

    Between the dog poo and the litter our lovely neighbors are making this ward look bad.

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  2. Good luch on this one. I've got two dogs and ALWAYS pick up. I get pissed 'cause I'm more likely to step on someone else's dog's doo while taking care of my dogs' doo. It's not a recent trend, it increases each winter 'cause apparently some people feel the snow will take care of it, or maybe they're just too cold to spend the extra 2 minutes outside to bag and dispose, or maybe they're just the same inconsiderate jerks that do it in the summer.

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  3. Absolutely. If you see someone NOT picking up after their pet, speak up to remind them that if they don't, we're gonna have rats and disease. Otherwise, we're all going to suffer.

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  4. No kidding!!! I noticed it near Ainslie the other day as I was walking. One bad owner can ruin it for us all too. Seriously, if you have one bad owner who obviously doesn't venture far from the home, there can be poop litter all ovvver the block. It's annoying! And as a responsible dog owner, I find it incredibly aggravating.

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  5. I second what Yo said. It makes the rest of us Dog Owners look bad. Seems like every year I have lived here, this happens when the snow melts. Not sure why people think that if your dog poops in a snow pile it is OK to leave it for Spring. So now there are just piles and piles of poop where snow used to be. I try to pick up another pile if it is within reach of the one my dog just made, but I am starting to get cranky about it, and I love dogs!

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  6. And while you're at it, could you PLEASE take your pet into the ALLEY to "take care of business" before embarking on the "pleasure cruise" around the neighborhood?

    If Mayor Daley proposed a law to this effect I'd gladly vote for him again.

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  7. I totally agree with this post.

    I am a dog owner and I don't like stepping in dog poop either. And for those who aren't smart enough to figure it out, Winter just preserves it and it thaws out in Spring.

    I must remind, that it is just a segment of the dog owners that do this and is equally irritating whether you own a animal or not.

    It is extremely lazy and selfish not to pick up after yourself in general.

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  8. Most of it probably isn't fresh.

    Every spring, you'll notice all the poo your neighbours have been covering in the snow instead of picking up reappearing as the snow melts. Since we've had some warmer days lately, you're getting a sneak peak.

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  9. Every morning, I walk to the Sheridan El stop, walking south on Sheridan, and without a doubt there is a fresh turd on the sidewalk in front of the doctor's office just to the north of the convenience store. in the same spot. every morning. it's ridiculous and so disgusting!

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  10. I agree about cleaning up after dogs - I do and always will. But the simple fact of the matter is during the winter certain conditions make it impossible to get everything.

    Take the eight plus inch of fluffy snow that fell a couple weeks ago. Once your dog relieves themselves it does not stay on top of the snow, simple heat vs cold makes the dogs "packages" sink fast. Try as you may unless you remove all the snow in the drop zone you cannot guarntee you got everything.

    That is why after every thaw there is an outcry from people saying people don't clean up after their dogs. I do my best, but alas I may miss some. It is not intentional and by and large most dog owners are responsible in picking up their pooches leftovers.

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  11. Hate to say it, because I have seen it first hand, not all the poop is animal, if you get my drift

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  12. RickyB is correct. A majority of what you are finding on the ground in not from dogs. There is a spot outside my complex where the local mentally ill like to congregate at night, and I have noticed "droppings" a number of times in that location.

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  13. its the unholy harvest
    of dog poop and garbage after the snow melts, i hate this time of year for that main reason

    its so unholy

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  14. Just remember to blame that particular irresponsible dog owner and not the dog or the entire class of dog owners living in this ward. Good dog owners who pick up their own dog's droppings hate those who don't, too, because we are most likely to tread the same ground and step in the remains. And I hate to say it but it it is still the adjoining property owner's job to maintain the city parkway (and sidewalks)in front of their properties.

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  15. I've never understood the social convention that says its acceptable for people who live in apartments and condos to allow their animals to crap and pee on the private property of others.

    Yes, its the "adjoining property owner's" responibility to pick up the parkway, but why do I have to pick up YOUR dog's crap? People who can't handle the responsibilty of an animal should not have one.

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  16. Agatite is the same exact way. It is worse in the winter but it does happen consistently all year long on our street also. It's a different story if a dog poops in the grass and you don't pick it up (which shouldn't happen) but when your dog poops on the sidewalk where someone will always step in it- that's the worst of the worse. Last time my neighbor didn't pick up his dog poop, I picked it up in a plastic bag and hung it on his doorknob. I do know it was his dog because I actually see it poop all the time and she doesn't clean it. I don't suggest doing this if you don't know where the poop came from but if you do, next time it happens, leave them a present.

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  17. Just to let you know, if people do NOT curb their dogs and dispose of their "dog poo" properly then should the police need to get involved, the individual can be fined.

    It is a violation of city ordinances!

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