Village East Neighborhood

BE A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER

Apr 17, 2006

People frequently call the Aurora Animal Care Division to complain about the smell and mess left behind by a neighbor?’s dog. Even people who believe they are responsible pet owners because they exercise their dog in the park, sometimes neglect to pick up the little piles made by their pet. This leaves an unhealthy situation for children to play in and creates friction with the people living close enough to suffer from the smell. People also become upset when others walk their dogs on leash, only to allow the pet to relieve itself on their private property. A common perception for this violation is that the folks are too lazy to clean up their own property, so they let the animal make a mess on the neighbor?’s lawn.

City ordinance 14-9 addresses removal of excrement:

?“It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or other animal not to immediately remove excrement deposited by such animal upon a common thoroughfare, street, sidewalk, play area, park or upon any other public property, except unlandscaped city-owned property in its native state, or upon private property when permission of the owner or tenant of the property has not been obtained, and such is declared to be a public nuisance and a violation of this chapter. Animal excrement shall not be placed in storm sewers or street gutters, but shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner. It shall also be unlawful under this chapter to permit excessive excrement to accumulate on any property to the degree that it becomes offensive or injurious to health.?”

To report a problem, please call the Animal Care Division at (303) 326-8280.

Please be a courteous neighbor and good dog owner by promptly cleaning up after your pet. This can easily be done when you are walking your dog by carrying small plastic bags (sandwich bags and the plastic bags the newspapers are delivered in come in handy for this purpose). Place your hand inside the plastic bag. Scoop up the excrement using the plastic-covered hand. Use your other hand to pull the edges of the plastic bag off your hand and over the waste. Then tie a knot in the bag to seal it. Throw it away in an appropriate trash container.

If you find yourself too busy to clean up the piles in your backyard, this is a great opportunity to help a neighborhood elementary or Jr. High School student earn a little extra money. Hire them to pick up after Fido. Or, there are professional companies in the yellow pages who will provide these services once a week for a fee.