Q: What should I do regarding dogs pooping in our yard and the person walking the dog not picking up the poop when they take them on a walk?

   A:  The Board has received comments and complaints about dogs running loose in the neighborhood, pooping on other residents' property and dog walkers leaving the dog waste or bags of poop on their lawns.  Below are examples of complaints and a response by a Board member of what you can and should do when this occurs.

Examples   FB Post -  (Aug 2015)  I have seen bags of poo all over the neighborhood. While I appreciate that they bagged it, I still don't understand why they just abandon it for someone else to pick up. Cleaning up after YOUR dog is part of responsible pet ownership.   FB Post -  (Aug 2015)  I for one couldn't agree with you more, I walk my Minpin and I clean up his messes and put it in a baggie and bring it it home and put it in the garbage can. Why bother picking it up and put it in a baggie if your just going to leave it there.      FB Post -  (Aug 2015)  I would like to thank the person who left their doggie bag in our yard. What is wrong with these people!?   Email to Board (edited) - (Aug 2015)  My neighbor's dog keeps pooping in my front yard. I spoke with the neighbor about it but nothing was done and I was told to pick it up and throw it back into their yard.  But why would I pick up her dogs poop. Its her dog and her responsibility to take care of her dog and poop. And its not just her dog anymore. Its been couple months now that people come towards our home to walk their dogs and the dogs poop in my yard but nobody picks their dogs poop up and they just leave it laying there. Its starting to stink. I would like you to do something regarding this so that people will start picking up their dogs poop when they take them on a walk.        In response to these comments and complaints, Peggie (Board member) replied:       We are in within the city limits of Puyallup and the City Municipal code (see code below) applies to your situation.  The city requires that dogs must be on a leash when not on the owner’s private property and also requires that the owner pick up the dog’s feces when it is not on their property.  Since you have already discussed the problem with your neighbor, I suggest that you print this "information" and show the dog’s owner.  If that does not take care of the problem, I suggest you contact: Metro Animal Services Shelter 1200 39th Ave. SE Puyallup, WA 98374 (253) 299-PETS (7387) Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.     Puyallup City Municipal code   8.04.080 Running at large restricted. No owner of any dog shall permit such dog to run at large at any place within the city or contrary to any of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2463 § 1, 1995; Ord. 1198 § 8(A), 1953. Formerly 8.04.070).    8.04.160 Dogs on a leash. (1) Nothing in this chapter shall be held to require the leashing of any dog while on the private premises of anyone consenting to have the dog on his premises unleashed. No dog shall be permitted, except on a leash, to use or be on any public street, sidewalk, parkway or public place within the city limits. (2) No dog shall be permitted to be or enter upon any food and drink handling establishment during the time that said place is open for public business. (3) No dog shall be permitted to go or be upon any school premises or grounds at any time during school hours. (4) No leash shall be greater than eight feet in length. (5) The provisions of this section shall not apply to service dogs if a leash would interfere with the service animal’s work or the nature of the animal’s owner’s or keeper’s disability prevents use of a leash. (Ord. 3029 § 6, 2013; Ord. 2463 § 1, 1995; Ord. 1198 § 10, 1953). 8.04.200 Violation – Punishment. A violation of any section within this chapter shall be punishable as a civil infraction. The base penalty for a civil infraction issued for violating a section of this chapter shall be as follows: (1) First violation: $25.00, unless a person or domestic animal suffers physical harm as a result of the violation then $250.00; (2) Second violation: $125.00, unless a person or domestic animal suffers physical harm as a result of the violation then $250.00; and (3) Third violation and all subsequent violations: $250.00. (Ord. 3029 § 8, 2013; Ord. 2463 § 1, 1995).