Vandals Create Dog Poop Problem In Moorestown, Parks And Rec Says

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Vandals appear to be taking bags full of dog poop out of trash cans at Memorial Field Park in Moorestown and putting them in a portable restroom unit, sources told Patch.

The township issued a notice on November 8 saying that Parks and Recreation workers were finding dog waste bags on the ground and in the portable Mr. Bob restroom units, and reminded residents to throw the bags away. Patch shared that notice on Nov. 11.

Some dedicated dog-walkers and a representative from Parks and Rec told Patch that it's an issue of vandalism, not oversight by dog owners. The department is encouraging residents to report vandalism or other suspicious activity at a local park to (856) 914-3093.

Resident Ed Levinson is part of a group of dog walkers who meet every morning at the Church Street park, and contacted Patch about the issue there.

"We witnessed the dog poop spread around the park and in the Mr. Bob," Levinson told Patch in an email.

Levinson shared a photo with Patch of a pile of knotted dog waste bags set inside a portable toilet at the park. He said the bags "were clearly removed" from proper trash bins and thrown into the toilets and around the park.

"Like any other laws in any town, there are a minority of people who don’t feel the laws apply to them, and dog owners unfortunately are no different," he told Patch. "We pick up random dog poops left by other dog owners, just as we pick up trash left by various sporting events."

Rich Corbin of the Moorestown Parks and Recreation department said someone (or several people) are "intentionally removing" bags with dog waste from park trash cans and putting them in the Mr. Bob toilets, or leaving them around the park.

"It’s vandalism," said Corbin in an email, and added the dog owners notified township officials of the issue.

"They are our eyes and ears on the ground, notifying us of issues they find in the parks," Corbin said, emphasizing that this is not an issue with local dog walkers.

Corbin said the Mr. Bob company completely sanitized the portable toilet last week and added a second unit at Memorial Park, as it is still busy on the weekends. The permanent bathrooms are closed for the winter and the water turned off, he said.

Corbin said that last week, he began locking the Mr. Bob units at sunset and will continue doing so, unlocking them in the morning.

"It seems that the vandal is operating under the cover of darkness," he told Patch, saying the township has been in contact with police.