July 8, 2008

Pick up after your dog... or else

The more than 2,500 dog owners in the city can no longer stand idly by after their pooches leave their droppings on private and public property in Bristol.
Unless the dog does its business on the owner’s own land – or someone else’s who doesn’t mind – the city will soon be able to slap a $25 fine.
City councilors unanimously approved the new law Tuesday that mandates dog owners clean up after their pets. The measure specifically applies only to dogs, not to other domestic animals that may wander onto the property of others.
City Councilor Craig Minor, who heads the Ordinance Committee that pushed the new statute, said one interesting twist is that the law requires dog owners to have “a means to clean up after their dog” with them whenever they’re out and about with their pet.
That allows police officers to check to make sure the owner was ready and able to follow through on the law’s mandates without actually witnessing the owner failing to do what the law requires.
That means that dog owners need to have bags or containers with them if they’re out and about with their pets – every time – or they could wind up with a ticket.
City Attorney Dale Clift, who came up with provision, said that someone lacking a means to scoop the poop “is not going to pick up after the dog.”
The existing law in Bristol requires owners to pick up after their pet on school or park property, but nowhere else.
Even now, there’s no leash law in town, though pets are supposed to be “under the control” of owners at all times.
Ignoring the pooper scooper laws in the parks and on school property, imposed in 1995, can lead to $90 fines, a much heftier tab than letting a dog leave its droppings in a neighbor’s yard.
The law goes into effect 14 days after it’s officially published in the newspaper, which will probably occur within a few days.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am glad to see our government leaders tackling the major problems that plague out city.

Anonymous said...

A step in the right direction.

Anonymous said...

Quick, lets get this into our promotional brochure!

Anonymous said...

With all the crap going on, the downtown moonscape, budgetary problems looming on the horizon, city residents facing a winter without money to pay for heat, vandalism out of control, etc., I am glad our City leaders have taken time to address a problem for which they are uniquely qualified.

Anonymous said...

Bad news 8:12, the City can't singlehandly stop the recession. They can address the vandalism and making people responsible for their animals is a small step towards cleaning up our town. I am glad our City leaders have taken time to address this problem. Too bad that they have to take the kind of crap that people like you are uniquely qualified at throwing.

Anonymous said...

7:22

Be careful where you step!

Anonymous said...

Hey 10:41 learn to read. On the other hand don't and maybe you too can serve on the City Council.

Nothing was said about any recession or national issues. The issues are local and only tangentially national.

Look around at the graffiti. Ask your neighbors about vandalism and petty crime. Look at your tax bills and wonder how the $500 increase will affect your ability to buy heating oil this winter. Look at the Downtown area, with its vacant lots, the mall, Sebastian's, the old box factory, Momatso (I have forgotten how to spell the name since the building was torn down).I could go on, but these are local issues and demand local action. Instead we get a City council obsessed with dog poop.

Anonymous said...

Hey 3:46 ~ Pretty obvious that I know how to read (and write as well). Perhaps if your head wasn't buried so far up your..., ah, but I digress.

Let me try to put it in terms that even you can understand...the tax bills, high cost of heating oil and gasoline, vacant buildings, empty downtown, etc. are all the result of a failing economy, sometimes referred to as a RECESSION...get the connection?

Anonymous said...

I hope that they get a cop to sit up at the Roberts Property and watch to see who doesn't come with a bag and starts writing tickets.

Anonymous said...

Now if someone could just come up with a "dog poop to energy program" to eliminate tax increases. The Mayor is always knee-deep in "it" -- maybe he has some ideas??

Anonymous said...

You only have to carry a bag: how will they know if you needed it?

Anonymous said...

They will know.

BIG BROTHER is watching you.

Anonymous said...

This is a good ordinance. I'm sick of the scum-holes walking their dogs and letting their dogs crap all over the place.

Anonymous said...

July 9, 2008 3:46 PM

If you've got a magic wand that can make high quality retailers flock to downtown Bristol, pass it over to the City Council. If not, shut up and let them do what little they can to upgrade the quality of life in this town. By the way, the dog crap ordinance was not their idea - it was requested by a local property owner. You got a problem with them being responsive to a citizen's request?

Anonymous said...

11:45v

Made by a propety owner who continually fails to maintain his property.

Anonymous said...

Flash!!

Bristol PD to request 4 cops to monitor POOP PICKUP.

Anonymous said...

Flash!!

Bristol blogger makes stupid comment about efforts made to clean-up the city.

Chele76 said...

... as I had to step over a HUGE pile of dog poop while walking on Federal Hill this evening...

Anonymous said...

9:51am - if I were you, I would stay out of sight because if that "poop patrol" spots you, your future could be in jeporady.