What Gets People to Clean Up the Dog Poop?

Increased fines or a shocking poster- which one would get you to scoop the poop?

The Boston city council is looking to crack down on dog owners who don’t clean up dog poop.

According to an article in the Boston Globe, “solving the problem will not be easy. … the city does not have firm figures on the number of dogs …there are about 10,000 licensed dogs, but added there are between 5,000 and 15,000 more that are unlicensed.”

Boston joins other major cities that have begun to take control of the pet waste problem in the past few months. New York City recently increased their fines to $250 for people found not picking up dog poop.

One city official “believes steeper fines, coupled with a more efficient way to make sure those fines get paid, will deter scofflaws.”

However I’m not sure if increasing fines, that may or may not be enforced, will really solve the problem. There are a number of factors as to why people don’t pick up their dog poop.

Some people simply don’t want to touch it. They don’t want to be seen carrying around a bag of doggie doo. (I’ve never understood this argument, especially coming from people with children who have changed countless dirty diapers).

Sometimes, it’s an honest mistake and people forget a bag, and there aren’t any available. This is going to become increasingly difficult for those who use plastic bags from the grocery stores. Many grocery stores are now charging for their bags or getting rid of them altogether.

In April, a town in England released an image to initiate a clean-up in the community- and all signs point to it working! (Follow the link to see the picture- WARNING: it might offend some)

Whether or not you find the poster revolting, I bet if you saw it on the street you’d think twice about leaving behind your dog’s poop.

I think solutions to this problem will come from a combination of change in attitude and products, such as our ReadyLeash that never leave people without a bag.

So- thoughts? Should local governments continue to increase fines for leaving behind dog poop- or does there need to be a more aggressive campaign to change people’s ways?