As an owner of more than one dog and a long time resident of Jersey City, I'm in agreement that although I love the fact that JC is a pet-friendly neighborhood for the most part, that with this influx of new investors and residents also brings about an increased problem of not properly curbing their dogs.
I for one, tinkered with the idea of posting a sign behind my building last year just to point out those who think that just because the street is quiet, they can get away with not picking up after their dogs EVEN though there is a sign there that states there is a fine for not curbing your dog. It makes responsible dog owners look bad and as a resident of JC, I for one, DO NOT like having to monitor the ground so that my dogs do not step on poop. It's like we have to walk through a maze and I'm already competing with the garbage that is placed outside in the mornings.
It's a simple process. Get a bag, scoop it up.
This past weekend I saw a woman walking a small dog and as I rounded the corner I saw her dog poop but the owner was not making any move to pick it up nor did she have any bags. Upon noticing that I was rounding the corner she quickly found a piece of newspaper and picked it up. Do I know for certain it was her intent to leave the poop there? No, I don't. But I would have bet $10.00 that it was.
Off leash - I see it but my dogs can get skittish so they have been and always will be on the leash. I do, however, feel that dogs should be controlled in that, just like people, proper introduction needs to be done. I do not like it when dogs just start to lunge at my dogs whether they are on the leash or not. It can cause an unfortunate situation and why not just prevent that from happening to begin with?
I spoke to my husband about this thread and this issue and we are both in agreement that these offenders should be penalized. Yes, I know that some days just don't go your way and lo and behold, the poop bag holder is empty. It's happened to all of us but that may have to be the price we pay to get our streets and sidewalks cleaner.