UPDATE: No Truth to Anti-Poop Spray Rumors

Although a status by The Anti-Cruelty Society is going viral on Facebook, building managers at 426 W. Briar Place say they’re not spraying harmful chemicals to deter dogs from pooping on the sidewalk.

The status update was posted around 10:30 a.m., and by 12:30 p.m., it already had 137 shares on Facebook. The post detailed a woman’s encounter with a grey-haired property manager early Friday morning.

“He told me that his building owner has authorized him to begin spraying chemicals on their sidewalks (public property) to discourage dog owners from not picking up after their pets,” the status reads. “Apparently the chemicals will burn the dogs when they squat to do their business, causing them to burn for days having accidents in you home. If the dog were to lick their paws after walking through these chemicals I can only assume that it would make them violently ill as well.”

But representatives with Realty Resources Group Incorporated, the building’s manager, say they’re absolutely no truth in the post.

“That is not correct,” said the representative, who refused to share his name. “He was probably washing the area down because people don’t pick up after their dogs. They might have a libel lawsuit on their hands. … He’s probably saying something to make sure they clean up after themselves, if anything.”

As of 1 p.m. Friday, the post was removed from The Anti-Cruelty Society's Facebook page.

When it was still up, the Facebook status urged residents and dog lovers to Ald. Tom Tunney’s (44th) ward office to share their concerns about the alleged chemical.

Tunney’s Director of Communications and Community Outreach Erin Duffy said the ward office received one call about the potential chemical Friday, but it was from a resident who heard the information from the Facebook update.

Duffy also said she’s sending the ward superintendent over to the building immediately to make sure everything checks out, and she’ll update Patch with any findings.

But if the building’s manager is correct, he won’t find much.

“The chemical he’s using, in my understanding, is H20,” the anonymous man with Realty Resources Group said. “If they heard that, it’s inaccurate, and there’s nothing dangerous to animals.”

But Katie, the woman who confronted the man Friday morning, posted in Patch's comments Friday saying she stands by her initial comment. This statement was taken from the comments below:

"I was the resident of Lakeview who was told directly by the property manager this information," Katie writes. "He is now trying to cover his back because he doesn't want bad publicity for his building. Don't threaten a dog owner with chemicals and harm to their pet if you don't expect they are going to do something about it. This all occurred at 8:30 am this morning when I (stopped) to speak to the man."

Editor's Note: This article was updated with Katie's comment.

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