§ 105-13 Pet solid waste.
[Added 9-26-1978 by Ord. No. 1689; amended 8-14-1984 by Ord. No. 1946; 12-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2964]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish requirements for the proper disposal of pet solid waste in the Village of Ridgewood, so as to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for failure to comply.
B.
Definitions and word usage. For the purpose of this section, the following terms, phrases, words and their definitions shall give the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this section clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word “shall” is always mandatory and not merely directory.
IMMEDIATE The pet solid waste is removed at once, without delay. OWNER/KEEPER Any person who shall posses, maintain, house, be responsible for, or harbor any pet or otherwise have custody of any pet, whether or not the owner of such pet. PERSON Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction. PET A domesticated animal (other than a disability assistance animal) kept for amusement or companionship. PET SOLID WASTE Waste matter expelled from the bowels of the pet; excrement. PROPER DISPOSAL Placement in a designated waste receptacle, or other suitable container, and discarded in a refuse container which is regularly emptied by the Village of Ridgewood or some other refuse collector; or disposal into a system designed to convey domestic sewage for proper treatment and disposal.
C.
Requirement for disposal. All pet owners and keepers are required to immediately and properly dispose of their pet’s solid waste deposited on any property; public or private, not owned or possessed by that person.
D.
Exemptions. Any owner or pet keeper who requires the use of a disability assistance animal shall be exempt from the provisions of this section while such animal is being used for that purpose.
E.
Enforcement. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the Board of Health of the Village of Ridgewood and the Village of Ridgewood Police Department.
F.
Violations and penalties. Any person(s) who is found to be in violation of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500 in accordance with Chapter 105, § 105-16.
G.
Severability. Each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase of this section is declared to be an independent section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase, and the finding or holding of any such portion of this section to be unconstitutional, void, or ineffective for any cause, or reason, shall not affect any other portion of this section.
H.
When effective. This section shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and any publication as may be required by law.
Ok. I like this rule, however how do you hold someone accountable when you don’t know the person? I see people walking dogs on my sidewalk and so far no incident but in case it happens how do you handle the situation?
I hate to see an owner or dog walker who is presumably being a responsible owner by scooping the waste with a plastic bag. That, admittedly gets rid of most of the solid waste. But, it is never completely cleaned with one scoop of a bag. That messy residue is left on the grass for a child or adult to step in. Why can’t a responsible owner train their dog to go in one spot in their own yards instead of making a mess on a lawn that is not yours and may well not even own a dog. If you don’t want the left over glop on your yard, why leave it on a neighbors? I have seen so many dog owners exit their house with a dog and take it to a neighbors to poop and then immediately go home.
If you don’t want to walk the dog, why leave your yard just long enough for a dog to mess up your neighbors?
I love when I see my neighbors walk their dogs and they shit on my lawn that’s OK you don’t want to pick it up. I pick it up and I know where they live and I throw it back on and on Their lawn, how do you like those apples. Oh well
Dog to Blog photographer…Can’t a mutt take care of important business ?
..id bite you..
if I could…
ps I’ll be back…
Reviving this old thread…
Given the coronavirus quarantine, I’m working from home and have noticed some very inconsiderate behavior from *some* dog owners.
Case in point: the other day, a woman and her young son allowed their large dog to urinate and poop on our front yard (for which I pay thousands of dollars each season to professionally maintain and landscape). So, what is a concerned citizen to do?
I opened the door and said “excuse me ma’am, no dogs on the lawn please…. please use the side walk *across the street* or the street for that purpose. Thank you.”
She was embarrassed and clumsily replied “…oh, sorry” (note: I doubt she was really sorry). She then proceeded to pick up her dog’s solid waste, as is required by Ridgewood code. Unfortunately, she didn’t clean *all* of it with that thin green bag and left a disgusting mess in my yard. Next time I see her, I am going to request that she pick up the residual waste WITH HER BARE HANDS if necessary.
Am I being unreasonable? Absolutely not.
Dog waste is extremely damaging to lawn and landscaping. In the absence of rain water, urine causes the lawn to turn brown in those spots – either injuring it or causing it to die. When a dog picks a spot to relieve him/herself, it’s often a calling card to other dogs to choose the same area.
Also, my young children play on the lawn and should not be subjected to a dog’s urine and feces. That’s just disgusting.
NOTICE TO ALL DOG OWNERS: YOUR NEIGHBOR’S PROPERTY IS NOT TO BE USED AS A LATRINE FOR YOUR DOGS! BE RESPECTFUL AND USE *YOUR OWN* PROPERTY (OR THE STREET) FOR YOUR DOG’S LIQUID AND SOLID WASTE!
Absolutely correct. Pet parents feel they have the ‘right’ to let their dogs shit and piss every where. I’m the curmudgeon who chases them and their stupid dogs away. What a bunch of entitled shits! Want a dog? Shit and piss in your own yard. Bet you won’t be a pet parent for long. Selfish losers!
” Dog owners must pick up any excrement from their dog on both public and private lands, and must not permit dogs to urinate on private property.”
Keeping our communities clean and healthy is a responsibility we all share, and the Ridgewood Pooper Scooper Rule is a great step in the right direction. Let’s all do our part to pick up after our furry friends and create a neighborhood we can be proud of!