Residents: Parts Of Upper Manhattan Overwhelmed By Dog Poop
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- As the snow melts away, the poop is revealed.
The rough winter has done a number on all New Yorkers, but for some residents in Inwood and Washington Heights the straw has finally broken the camel's back.
Members of many neighborhoods in the two communities said Thursday they have had it with the piles of dog feces that have overwhelmed sidewalks and streets.
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1010 WINS' Al Jones reports on the mess of dog droppings
"We have to be very careful," one resident told 1010 WINS' Al Jones. "Now it's all coming out, yes. That's what I've noticed."
"It's like a war zone out there," Washington Heights resident Gina Vergel said.
Residents have repeatedly called the city's 311 system asking officials to enforce the clean-up-after-your-dog laws.
"But it's the type of thing that's last on the list for someone to come and do something about," resident Carol Collins said, adding as bad as the situation is on the streets it's even worse in Inwood Park.
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However, the Department of Sanitation said the problem could just stem from the massive amounts of snow that have fallen on the city this winter.
That said, the problem of not picking up after your dog appears to be a problem in Washington Heights – even when it doesn't snow. In 2010 the community had the most violations in Manhattan, according to the Department of Sanitation.
The worst dog poop zones were identified as Riverside Drive, Amsterdam Avenue and 160th and 179th streets.
Inwood residents said they wanted something done about poop pileups on 218th Street, Cooper Street and on Seaman Avenue.
The Department of Sanitation said dog owners who don't pick up after their pets can face a fine of $250, but also that enforcement is often difficult because, Department of Sanitation spokesman Matthew Lipani said, violators literally have to be caught in the act.
"This is actually one of our hardest violations to write, as dog owners must be seen in action not picking up after their dog," Lipani said in a published report.
So who is to blame for this problem? Let us know in the comments section below.
