Milton's Pooper Scooper Law

If you're a homeowner with property that borders a public sidewalk then you've probably dealt with the occasional unsolicited pile of dog feces. That's just a fancy way of saying, someone’s dog poops in your driveway and you’re left to deal with it. I sure know how that feels; I live on a pretty busy street and occasionally have to pick up feces left on my property by some inconsiderate dog owner. A very humbling experience, as you might imagine. Obviously it's not the dog's fault; it doesn't matter to the dog whose property it is. While it's not the dog's responsibility to clean up after itself, it is the responsibility of the dog's owner, right? Most people assume that dog owners have a responsibility to scoop after their pooch but it remains an assumption if you don't know the law. So, before you attempt to confront that not so cool neighbor, help yourself by learning the actual law. 

On May 3, 2004, Milton enacted a Dog Fouling Bylaw. A bylaw typically refers to a local law with limited application. To summarize, it is the duty of the person who owns the dog to remove its feces from any public or private areas. The owner should have some kind of "tool" on her person to remove the feces. Failure to do so can result in fines as high as $100. Now get this, it’s not against the law for someone else’s dog to poop on your property. So try not to blow your stack if you catch your neighbor’s dog using your lawn as a toilet. However, it is against the law for the owner not to clean it up. So, who has the job of enforcing this bylaw? The Milton police are authorized to issue fines but if you're thinking they have more important things to worry about, you're right.

What’s the best way to handle this situation? Try approaching the inconsiderate dog owner and asking him if he would please clean up after his pet. Maybe you could start off with something disarming like, “Dude, that’s some load your dog is leaving in my driveway. I sure hope you’re taking that with you.” You can always choose to share some of your newfound knowledge about the bylaw. Whatever you do, don’t argue and don’t lose your cool. If it really becomes a problem, and you have enough information about the dog owner, file a report with the Milton police. The good news is that most of the dog owners I know in Milton are pretty responsible about cleaning up after their pets.

To learn more about the Dog Fouling Bylaw, visit the Town of Milton’s website. To learn more about the health issues involved with pet waste and how to properly dispose of it, check out the Pet Waste Problem.

The information is out there, you just need to find it.