City of Lethbridge Parks Community Coordinator Ashley Walker gave dog owners the poop scoop this week, as the City announced the return of Dog Waste Awareness Month and the Doggy Doo Doo Crew.
“The purpose of the campaign is to raise community awareness around the importance of this issue. In spring, snow melts and dog poop emerges throughout our city. Throughout our parks, near playgrounds and waterways and in the coulees,” Walker notes.
Contrary to what some believe, Walker adds, dog waste is not a fertilizer. “It contains bacteria. Not only is it unsightly – it can also harm our vegetation, pollute our waterways, spread disease among other animals and pollute and litter our parks.”
Dog waste has a negative impact on the environment, says Walker. “It’s definitely a widespread issue.”
The City hopes to change behaviour, while encouraging residents to pick up after their pets.
“We have some great dog owners who pick up after themselves and they have the motto of pick up their dog’s doo doo, as well as another one, which is really great,” says Walker.
One way the City is raising awareness is by holding dog park cleanups, Walker explains. “Every Thursday throughout May, we’ll be cleaning up each of our five dog parks. Volunteers on the Doggy Doo Doo Crew will pick up dog waste and leave a flag in its place. The flags will create a great visual and each flag will showcase dog waste that was not picked up.”
According to Walker, this year marks the City’s third Dog Waste Awareness Month campaign. “Each year, the amount of dog waste has been reduced, which is positive.”
“Every year it’s great to see it has been reduced, but at the same time, there’s still a lot of white flags that people notice,” says Walker.
Skylar Plourde is the City’s director of Services and Enforcement of Community Animal Services.
“As far as City bylaws go, dog owners are required to pick up and dispose of pet waste left behind in parks and green spaces. It also does require that on your own property, you don’t allow dog waste to accumulate to the point where it becomes a nuisance or a health hazard to the community,” Plourde notes. “Dog feces – not only does it visually look like litter, but it can also harm other pets, vegetation and people. It’s quite a popular complaint our office gets, especially during springtime when it emerges from underneath the melted snow. We do have to address it year-round.”
Under the current City bylaw, Plourde adds, the fine for not picking up after your pet is $100. “Our bylaw officers do conduct proactive controls of regular park spaces, as well as the off-leash areas to ensure compliance and to both educate and enforce.”
“Our goal is always education. Not every contact or complaint turns into a ticket. If we can get compliance in other ways, that is the goal. It’s up there in the top five complaints related to dog issues,” says Plourde.
(Photo by Stan Ashbee)
