City Ordinance Is Very Clear On Dog Owners' Responsibility

One of the most frequent complaints I hear about the problem of litter is that dog owners seem to feel that it is alright to let their dogs defecate on public or private property and just merely walk away without cleaning up the mess. The City of Huntington ordinance related to this issue is very clear:

ARTICLE 507 (City of Huntington City Code)

DOGS.

(a) It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her dog on any sidewalk, street or other public area in the City. It shall further be the duty of each person who owns, possess or controls a dog to remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her dog on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person.(b) No person who owns, possesses or control such dog shall appear with such dog on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area without the means of removal of any feces left by such dog. Furthermore, no person who owns, possesses or controls such dog shall appear with such dog on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person without the means of removal of any feces left by said dog.(d) This section shall not apply to a dog accompanying any handicapped person who, by reasons of his/her handicap, is physically unable to comply with the requirements of this section, or to any individual who utilizes a guide dog.(e) The provisions of this section are severable; and if any of the provisions of this section shall be held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions. (Ord. 8-10-98.)(Ord. 6-28-99.)

507.99 PENALTY.(EDITOR'S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for general Code penalty if no specific penalty is provided.)

501.99 PENALTY.

(a) Whoever violates any provision of this Part Five - General Offenses Code for which no other penalty is provided shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00)or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. Each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.(b) Whoever violates Section 501.01 shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.(WVaC 61-5-14)(c) Whoever violates Section 501.02(c) shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall be imprisoned not more than thirty days.(WVaC 61-5-17)(d) Whoever violates Section 501.04 shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.(WVaC 6 1-6-17)(e) Whoever violates Section 501.05(a) shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).(WVaC 61-1-9)

Property owners have every right to file a complaint with the city, but it is necessary to have witnesses and they will have to testify in court. The only way to stop these inconsiderate acts is to prosecute the irresponsible owners.