Among the issues that rile people’s blood in mile-square Hoboken, dog feces may be the silliest and yet one of the most often recurring. Residents have penned many angry letters to the Hoboken Reporter over the years about dog waste. But in recent weeks, a resident has – figuratively, not literally – taken matters into his or her own hands.
This summer, yellow stenciled letters began appearing on sidewalks near Ninth and Clinton streets, 12th and Washington streets, and other residential areas saying “Curb your dog” and sometimes adding an arrow toward the street, with a separate arrow away from the street next to the word “Humans.”
While the stenciling looks professional, it’s not an initiative by City Hall, said Juan Melli, a spokesman for Mayor Dawn Zimmer.
“We think it was done by a frustrated property owner who has had to put up with dog waste on their sidewalk,” he said. “While we understand their frustration, the paint needs to be removed from the sidewalk.”
The issue has health ramifications that go beyond smelly shoes. No less than the Environmental Protection Agency warns on its website, “Pets, particularly dogs, are significant contributors to source water contamination. Studies performed on watersheds in the Seattle, Washington, area found that nearly 20 percent of the bacteria found in water samples were matched with dogs as the host animals…Probably the greatest health concern associated with animal wastes is pathogens. Many pathogens found in animal waste can infect humans if ingested.”
The last offender was issued a $500 fine and five days of community service.
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A longtime condo resident in Hoboken, who asked that her name not be used, said last week that the issue is serious.
“There are always two to three piles of feces within a few block radius [of my home],” she said. “It’s like dodging landmines. You’d think with the high taxes we pay, City Hall would take some initiative to crack down on the actions of irresponsible dog owners.”
There are, in fact, steep fines in place to deal with the (fecal) matter. According to Article 93-16 of the city code, those who don’t dispose of their doggie dung can be charged a $100 minimum and $2,000 maximum fine with up to 90 days of community service and 90 days of imprisonment.
Melli said, “The last offender charged with not picking up after their dog was issued a $500 fine and five days of community service work for a first time offense, after the health officer recommended a higher than minimum penalty to the prosecutor.”
Scatological sensation
The anonymous sidewalk painter isn’t the only one who is steaming about the piles. Last week, a Washington Street resident posted a very long letter on a fence outside his home scolding someone who left an unwelcome gift nearby.
“Please leave your name and address,” concluded the sarcasm-laden missive, “so that I may stop by some time and return the favor.”
And it’s not only Hoboken residents making a stink. The Reporter received a letter for its Jersey City edition this weekend saying, in part, “Dog walkers from Kennedy Blvd between Paterson Street and Grace Street, Grant St., Congress St and Summit Avenue walk their dogs on the grass here and think it is a burial ground that they do not have to pick up their pet’s mess. God forbid you say something to them because they want to take off your head.”
So, what to do? Leaving paint on sidewalks is a violation as well. But you can still vent your concerns in the Reporter by sending a letter to editorial@hudsonreporter.com, and putting “Hoboken” in the subject head.