Everyone loves dogs. With their wet noses and wiggly butts, how could you not? Their owners, thats another story. Last month, Upper East Site was first to report on a stomach-turning study that revealed we were all tracking dog shit from Upper East Side sidewalks into our homes, now Council Member Julie Menin is taking action to get selfish UES dog owners to change their shitty ways.
On Tuesday, Council Member Menin announced a ‘Curb Your Dog’ design contest, calling for creative entries for signs and slogans to be posted around the neighborhood in an effort to get dog owners to do the right thing and dispose of their pets waste properly, rather than making their pet everyone else’s problem
“It’s frankly unacceptable and should be an expectation, not an option to pick up your dog’s waste,” said Council Member Julie Menin, “This contest will serve as a reminder to dog owners to take responsibility for cleaning up after their beloved pet.”
Researchers from Marymount Manhattan College on the Upper East Side who conducted a study into fecal bacteria on UES sidewalks found such a staggering amount that they had to dilute their samples because the what they found was literally off the charts.
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“There were so many [bacteria on the sidewalk] that we couldn’t measure them, so we had to keep diluting the samples more and more until we could get an actual measurable number,” Dr. Alessandra Leri told Upper East Site in an interview last month.
“Taking off your shoes right when you get in the door is the best policy,” Leri added.
Council Member Menin says dog poop left on the sidewalk by their owners is one of the most frequent quality of life complaints that her office receives.
“I launched this campaign to ensure dog owners curb their dog as it shouldn’t be the norm to dodge canine waste or worry about tracking fecal bacteria back into your home on your shoes, stroller, or shopping cart,” Menin said.
Students at PS 527 appear to have gotten the jump on the contest. One hand-drawn sign posted in front of the school, located on East 91st Street between First and Second Avenue in Yorkville, includes imagery of a Frenchy and a poo emoji and reads ‘Clean up after your pup!’
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Another reminds dog owners that ‘When you’re walking your dog and it made a big poop, if you don’t have a bag please visit our stoop.’
The winning design, which must be sized to fit within a regular sheet of paper in landscape, 11” by 8.5”, will be displayed across buildings, schools and neighborhood associations within District 5, as well as on Council Member Menin’s social media accounts.
Submissions must include your first name, last name and address and can be emailed to [email protected] in jpeg or png format through April 22nd.
Only one entry is allowed per person and you must be a resident or student who goes to school within District 5, which includes the eastern half of the Upper East Side and Roosevelt island.
The winning design will be announced May 1st.
