West Village Dog Poop Problem Needs Action, Councilman Says

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A rallying cry echoed over Lower Manhattan's doggy doo-laden streets: "There is no poop fairy."

The stinky reality check came from a news conference hosted by West Village Council Member Erik Bottcher and sanitation officials April 22, who vowed to put their feet down on stray excrement.

Expect more officers from the Department of Sanitation's police unit to enforce the city's "pooper scooper law," they said.

"My office is getting a lot of calls from residents who are really upset about having to dodge piles of dog poop on the sidewalk," Bottcher said at the news conference. "People need to start being responsible and pick up after their dogs."

Passed in 1978, the "pooper scooper law" requires dog owners and walkers to remove any feces left by dogs on any sidewalk, gutter, street, or other public areas.

But apparently, some Lower Manhattan dog owners haven't got the message.

The poop piles got so bad that Community Board 4 members — who are also in Bottcher's District 3 but slightly more uptown than the West Village — in March unanimously voted in favor of a letter requesting the DSNY and Bottcher "explore a renewed campaign encouraging city residents to clean up after their dogs."

The letter cited an increased observance of dog waste on the sidewalks and in public spaces.

Other Lower Manhattan elected officials State Senator Brad Hoylman, Assembly Member Deborah Glick, and Assembly Member Richard Gottfried were also in attendance on Friday voicing their support for more enforcement around dog owners cleaning up after their pooches.

Bottcher's office added that it helps DSNY to let them know where the particularly troublesome areas are when it comes to dog poop and if there were certain times when it is at its worse.

The fine for not picking up your dog's poop is $250.