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Southold Town To Update Pooper Scooper Law

Board to pass resolution to change ‘pooper scooper’ law to more comprehensive wetlands law.

With and the new Sup with pet waste, officials plan to pass a resolution Tuesday night to make this town’s existing ‘pooper scooper’ law more comprehensive and effective.

The Town’s existing pooper scooper law requires dog owners to pickup after their pets on all town properties, public and private, and specifically forbids dog owners to leave behind pet feces on town parks and beaches. It is up to each individual property owner to allow pet waste to remain.

But Deputy Director of Public Works Jeff Standish told the board during work session Tuesday morning that the accumulation of dog waste at the town’s new dog park in Peconic is “getting out of control” — even with signs and bags available at the park.

“It’s hard to weed-wack or do any maintenance,” he said.

Supervisor Scott Russell suggested putting up a sign that the park would be shut down if people didn’t clean up after their dogs.

“If we can’t enforce the pooper scooper law on Town-owned land then we can’t enforce it anywhere,” he said.

Town Attorney Martin Finnegan said that the updated wetlands law would include the requirement to clean up after all pets including dogs, and it would also make feeding of seagulls subject to police enforcement in town.

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Landlord in Southold June 5, 2012 at 05:37 pm
Does this mean I have to clean up after my dog on my own property? Seems a little extreme if that is in fact the law.
Frank T June 5, 2012 at 05:47 pm
Unfortunately a few dog owners ruin things for the entire community. I have a neighbor or neighbors that let their dog poop on my lawn near the front walkway. There's a lot of space to poop why do it where a neighbor could step in it? How difficult is it to carry a plastic bag and pick it up? The parks are the worst when you have kids playing and stepping in that filth.
Erin Schultz (Editor) June 5, 2012 at 05:52 pm
Hi Landlord in Southold — no actually, it is up to each individual property owner to allow pet waste to remain. I've added that line. Thanks -- Erin
Deborah Kusa June 5, 2012 at 07:08 pm
Another issue that needs to be addressed in the East Marion Park, i.e., is the inappropriate use of the tennis court as a dog run. Dog waste is left behind on the courts and the misuse of the tennis court is eroding the surface.
"Dogs" should be added to the Town's posted list of what is prohibited on our tennis courts, Please! since it must not be obvious to certain dog owners what is and is not an appropriate use of the facility.
William Swiskey sr June 5, 2012 at 09:36 pm
Dog waste as the cause of increased bacteria levels, I would suggest that they don't really want to acknowledge the far more serious causes. But then you might be stepping on toes, not paws.
Erin Schultz (Editor) June 5, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Gwynn Schroeder said on Facebook: "We need to address the biggest culprit - human waste and cesspools that leach nitrogen into our ground and surface waters."
Dorian June 6, 2012 at 11:18 am
I have a daily dog-walking job on Soundview Ave/Lloyd's Lane/ Reeve & Saltaire neighborhood. Everyday I pick up after these dogs & everyday I see more mounds left behind by others. Brought this to the town once already. It's just my point of view, but I don't see the big problem in simply picking up after your dog.
Linda Auriemma June 6, 2012 at 01:41 pm
Sadly, dog waste IS a serious problem, but it's certainly not the only one. I'm a life-long dog lover in New Suffolk, where we have water and the Bay all around us, yet, despite the law and frequent public discussion/campaigning by our Civic Association, there are still people who do not pick up. A few are residents; others just come to walk their dogs on the Town beach - in total disregard of the signs that clearly say - NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH. Getting rid of dog waste pollution is an easy fix - just pick it up and dispose of it properly. What's so hard about that??? Now, septic, cesspools and nitrogen....that's another story!
Peggy Dow June 9, 2012 at 01:02 am
Regarding your Dog Park. A couple of years ago, her in Florida, we looked at property to buy that was a former Dog Park at one time until they decided to use the land to build a house on it. It had been cleared of all dog waste but after a year of not being used, the Park still had a dog poop odor to it. It filtered through our clothes after just walking around on the property. I am not a proponent of Dog Parks at all after witnessing and actually being on a former Dog Park property.I don't know if the odor will ever go away. It was terrible.
Rich from the East End June 9, 2012 at 01:16 am
The town should consider how to empower the summer "traffic control" hires as well as park attendants and lifeguards as authorized to issue "tickets" for violation of pooper scooper law. I think it is as important as obeying the parking rules.
the nitrogen in the ground can be addressed by a more expensive system. Also the Town "leave bags" should not give instructions of adding nitrogen fertilizer to lawns. Rather it could point out the damage such runoff does to the Bay and endcourage alternatives. I am surprised at the concern over the Dog Park. I have been there only 2-3 times recently but each time it was clean and I have only observed other dog owners as being careful to pick up.

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