Pet etiquette: Do the right thing and clean up after your furry friends
Eagle Nest pet owners love their animals, but not all residents are fans of what these furry friends leave behind. Dog poop is undesirable in any neighborhood – it’s smelly, unsightly and damages lawns over time. And it’s no fun after you step in it.
Your ENPOA board reminds residents about the importance of being good neighbors and cleaning up after your pet. It’s a courtesy thing, shows respect and sets a good example for pet owners. It’s an issue of sanitation and health, too. Really.
Dogs harbor in their guts disease-causing bacteria that can make people sick: coliform bacteria, a group that includes E. coli, a bacterium that can cause disease; and fecal coliform bacteria, which spread through feces. Dogs also carry salmonella and giardia. The result? Kids playing in fouled yards could contract unsavory diseases. Dog poop tracked into your house could expose your family and friends to serious health risks.
That’s why it’s important to clean up after your pet. Sadly, too few do just that. According to USA Today story about pet etiquette, about 40 percent of dog owners fail to pick up after their pets. Common excuses include “because it eventually goes away,” “small dog, small waste” and “just because.” Suffice to say, responsible pet owners don’t have excuses.
Aside from health and courtesy concerns, leaving dog poop in someone else’s yard without their permission is a fineable offense of at least $25, according to Indianapolis statute Article II, Sec. 531-203. It also is a finable offense to knowingly allow a dog or cat to defecate or urinate on a public street, municipally owned or public land or building.
So, the next time you take your dog for a walk, please take a plastic bag and clean up after your pet. Take two bags, in fact, just in case. Don’t fake cleaning up – get it all. Make a return trip, if needed. Pretend it’s your yard and do the job right.
Most Eagle Nest residents are responsible, conscientious pet owners, and we thank them for doing the right thing. However, if you see a neighbor who fails to clean up after their pet, confront them in a civil way. Offer them a bag and remind them that it’s not neighborly to leave trash in somebody else’s lawn. Remind them about the potential for a $25 fine. This is Eagle Nest, afterall, where residents take pride in their homes and respect each other.
When it comes to doo-doo, do unto others as you would have them to do unto you.
Your ENPOA board reminds residents about the importance of being good neighbors and cleaning up after your pet. It’s a courtesy thing, shows respect and sets a good example for pet owners. It’s an issue of sanitation and health, too. Really.
Dogs harbor in their guts disease-causing bacteria that can make people sick: coliform bacteria, a group that includes E. coli, a bacterium that can cause disease; and fecal coliform bacteria, which spread through feces. Dogs also carry salmonella and giardia. The result? Kids playing in fouled yards could contract unsavory diseases. Dog poop tracked into your house could expose your family and friends to serious health risks.
That’s why it’s important to clean up after your pet. Sadly, too few do just that. According to USA Today story about pet etiquette, about 40 percent of dog owners fail to pick up after their pets. Common excuses include “because it eventually goes away,” “small dog, small waste” and “just because.” Suffice to say, responsible pet owners don’t have excuses.
Aside from health and courtesy concerns, leaving dog poop in someone else’s yard without their permission is a fineable offense of at least $25, according to Indianapolis statute Article II, Sec. 531-203. It also is a finable offense to knowingly allow a dog or cat to defecate or urinate on a public street, municipally owned or public land or building.
So, the next time you take your dog for a walk, please take a plastic bag and clean up after your pet. Take two bags, in fact, just in case. Don’t fake cleaning up – get it all. Make a return trip, if needed. Pretend it’s your yard and do the job right.
Most Eagle Nest residents are responsible, conscientious pet owners, and we thank them for doing the right thing. However, if you see a neighbor who fails to clean up after their pet, confront them in a civil way. Offer them a bag and remind them that it’s not neighborly to leave trash in somebody else’s lawn. Remind them about the potential for a $25 fine. This is Eagle Nest, afterall, where residents take pride in their homes and respect each other.
When it comes to doo-doo, do unto others as you would have them to do unto you.
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