Don't Get Caught Without a Plastic Bag!

On June 6, the is expected to put a new ordinance in place that would require city pet owners to clean up after their pets, not only in city parks but also on private property.

said that while there is a city law on the books that forces local pet owners to pick up and dispose of dog feces in city parks, Community Service Officers continue to see animal waste as a problem.

“It’s on our minds and has been on the minds of our Community Service Officers for quite some time,” Raquet said. He estimated that the city gets a complaint about animal waste at least a couple times every week.

The new city ordinance would also require local pet owners to carry something, like a plastic bag, while walking their animal. That way, city officials say, Minnetonka’s pet owners will be prepared to dispose of animal waste properly, in the event that “Fido” makes his own disposal.

“A person must not permit an animal under his/her care, custody or control to defecate on public or private property without permission of the property owner, unless the person immediately cleans up and disposes of the animal's feces in a sanitary manner,” the new ordinance reads, in part.

City officials are taking the problem of pet feces very seriously. They said pet excrements contain disease-carrying bacteria that can make people sick and pollute local waters.  Currently the city provides “Mutt Mitts” (plastic bags) free-of-charge along the city’s trail system.

Chief Raquet said the ordinance will give local officers more power to solve the problem.

“It gives us some leverage,” he said. “But there is an educational piece to this too. It’s about teaching people to be good citizens and good neighbors.”

Once the ordinance is in place in early July, a pet owner who is caught letting their animal defecate without picking up the waste, or who is caught simply without a means to pick up the waste, could face a maximum fine of $200.