What's the scoop on dog waste in public parks? - Action News
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Ottawa

What's the scoop on dog waste in public parks?

One Riverside South park has sparked a lively debate over what's the best model for disposing of animal waste.

City says pet owners must dispose of animal waste on own property, but organic bins are sometimes provided

A dog squats, ready to defecate.
According to the city, the Animal Care and Control By-law requires dog owners to dispose of feces on their own property. (LeslieS/Flickr)

Residents of Ottawa'sRiverside South suburb are finding themselves at the centre of a lively debate after successfully lobbyingfor signson their local park's garbage canstelling dog owners to puttheir pet's poop elsewhere.

City signs posted to garbage cans in Whooping Crane Park read, "NO ANIMAL WASTE PLEASE." Another more common sign advises dog walkers in the park to "Stoop & Scoop."

Igniting some discussion online, park goers applauded the new signage, saying stinky garbage especially near playsets or other structures ruins the fun for others.

But it also has dog owners saying they worry the signs could discourage people from picking up after their pets.

A sign saying
This message affixed to garbage cans in Whooping Crane Park has sparked debate online. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)

Bylaw says poop should be taken home

"Like a lot of people around the park, we have small kids," said Harjot Dhindsa, who lives across the street from Whooping Crane Park. "They come and play in the park and on one particular day, it was a very hot day, we noticed that there was a weird smell coming around the park."

He said he complained to the city about the stenchbut another neighbour took charge and got the signs installed. He said he first spotted the signs in May or June.

According to the city, the Animal Care and Control By-law requires that dog owners dispose of feces on their own property.

"The City of Ottawa encourages flushing pet waste down the toilet, as it will be properly treated at the sewage plant," says a written statement from Jennifer Therkelsen, Ottawa's acting director of bylaw services.

"Dog owners can also place waste in their green bin that is properly wrapped in absorbent paper and placed in a sealed, leak proof bag."

Green bins provided at some parks

Ian Ferguson, Ottawa's program manager for waste collections, said most parks where dogs are allowed have signs near the waste receptacles, a practice put in place over the past three years.

He said 56 Ottawa parks also have separate streams to allow users to dispose of their garbage, recycling or organics including dogwaste appropriately.

"This initiative has been extremely popular," Ferguson said.

A sign with the park's name sits in front of a garbage bin.
One resident near Whooping Crane Park says the smell from the nearby garbage cans could be too much. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)

The city says thatfollowing the approval of the Solid Waste Master Plan in June 2024, a broader-scale diversion program, including recycling and organics bins, is coming to more parks and other locations soon.

"It's OK if it works," said dog walker Rachel Bernier about the new signs at Whooping Crane Park. She was letting two poodles exercise at adog park a few minutes driveaway.

"But I don't think it would work because we're even having trouble getting people to pick up the dog waste in the dog parks regularly."

A sign in a wooded area tells people that,
This sign in Pine Hill Park in Ottawa's Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward advises dog owners that 'there is no poop fairy!' The city says its diversion program is coming to more parks across the city. (Falice Chin/CBC)

Bernier said many of the dog parks she frequents have designated containers for animal waste.She said she questions how effective signs like the ones at Whooping Crane Park will be without having suchbins for pet owners to use.

"I'm walking several dogs at one time, so that's going to be quite stinky in my vehicle after a while, especially in the summertime," she said. "So it's, to me, not practical."

Changea breath of fresh air, says resident

Dhindsa said most people respectthe bylaw and he's noticed improvements at his local park already.

"Generally people, whoever I've talked to after the signs are put up, especially the dog owners once they're aware, they make a conscious decision not to throw the dog poop there," he said.

A sign tells dog owners to stoop and scoop. The sign includes pictographs of a pooping dog, a shovel and bag, followed by an open toilet.
A sign at Whooping Crane Park tells dog owners to 'Stoop & Scoop.' The same advisory can be seen down the street at nearby Atrium Park. (Joseph Tunney/CBC)

He said he'dlike to see clearer messaging come to some of the other, largerparks in the area.

"Some more effort on educating the dog owners will go a long way," he said.

"Whichever dog owner I have talked to were like, 'Oh, we did not know that.' And the second question they ask me is, 'Is this a new law?'"

A man with dark hair looks forward.
Harjot Dhindsa complained to the city about the stench and asked that the garbage cans be emptied. (Zoom)

But despite warnings spelled out in capital letters, Dhindsa said he still sees some who ignore the signs and some who missthe garbage bin altogether and leaveit on the ground.

"The dog poop is still there, [just] not to that extent," he said.