Dog waste has become pervasive across New York City, appearing in parks, brownstone-lined streets and sidewalks from Staten Island to Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Encounters include fresh piles, petrified feces and smeared waste, turning a sporadic annoyance into a daily problem. Some walkers curb their pets and leave bagged waste under trees or in sidewalk rain gardens, creating mounds of plastic bags. Even dog owners report frustration and frequent sightings near transit hubs and neighborhoods. New York City's 311 system shows complaints rising to 1,950 year-to-date through Aug. 21, compared with 1,750 during the same period last year. Residents call for greater responsibility and city action.
Frustration is spreading across New York City as residents express concern over the continued problem of dog waste piling up on sidewalks and streets. From the parks of Staten Island to the brownstone-lined streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan, encounters with puppy poo are angering people across the five boroughs, sparking calls for pet parents to be more responsible and city officials to take more action to stop the smelly situation.
Dogs are part of so many families, and humans have traditionally learned to coexist with the cuddly creatures in dense urban environments like New York City. But a noticeable uptick in piles of fresh feces, petrified poo and even stepped-in and smeared-around waste has turned a once-in-a-while annoyance to an everyday scourge for many New Yorkers. Even dog parents are upset.
I live in a new building right by the Staten Island Ferry. It's everywhere, Dani Benavides of Staten Island, said. I walk my dogs four to six times daily. It's not hard to pick up after your pet. It is not surprising that Benavides encounters pet poo so often on the streets. According to the city's Office of Technology and Innovation, which runs New York City's 311 system, complaints are up year-to-date over last year.
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