Get your disinfectant ready: It’s time for a morning dog walk.
I’ve often walked my dog, Periwinkle, on what we call the dog superhighway: Westchester Drive north of Lovers Lane.
Periwinkle gets her wiggles out. I get some fresh air, and we both enjoy catching up with our four-and two-legged friends.
But we take our eyes off the sidewalk at the risk of bringing home a stinky souvenir left by a previous dog walker.
I’m baffled by how dog owners have overlooked these precious gifts, which range in size from petite to substantial. I can’t seem to. I’ve stepped in them more than once.
While I’ve long known about the city’s leash law, I wasn’t sure whether University Park residents are required to pick up their pets’ waste. When I checked the city’s website, I discovered that University Park does not have a pooper scooper ordinance, although residents are strongly encouraged to clean up after their pets.
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The city appears to be in the minority. Highland Park, Dallas, Richardson, Plano, and McKinney all specifically require owners to remove their pets’ poop.
Surprised, I reached out to University Park for clarification. Community information officer Paige Ruedy explained that the city prohibits littering in public places. Its definition of “garbage” reads: “putrescible animal or vegetable waste, including but not limited to wastes that are generated from the handling, preparation, cooking, and consumption of food.”
Doggie deposits fall under this umbrella.
This is not as clear as the laws of neighboring cities. But surely pet lovers do not need a separate ordinance, or the specter of legal action at all, to persuade them to clean up after their furry friends. The residents of University Park all seem to have sufficient doggie bags, respect for their neighbors, and common sense to do the right thing.
So, are there good reasons for leaving doggie droppings in the middle of sidewalks? I turned to the Internet for an explanation. Frequently cited excuses for failing to pick up dog poop include:
Forgetting to bring poop bags on walks. (I’ve solved this by either asking fellow dog walkers for baggies or racing home and getting a bag while hoping that I haven’t been captured leaving behind poop on a neighbor’s Ring camera.)
Running with your dog. (I applaud anyone brave enough to run with their pet. But my pet does not poop while in motion, and I think I would notice if she stopped.)
Walking your dog at night. (Modern cell phones have flashlights.)
An inability to bend over. (This is a true obstacle to picking up dog waste. While the Internet suggests several solutions, they are bulky, and I can understand not bringing them on dog walks. But since most Westchester dog walkers appear to be in robust health, I do not think this problem is widespread.)
None of these excuses also explain why, in all of my dog walks, I have never once observed someone failing to pick up after their pet.
So, what’s to blame for the magical appearance of dog poop — thoughtless owners, free range pups, or a lack of legal guidance? This is one mystery that lingers, along with the stinky waste that gets stuck to shoes, long after a dog walk ends.
