'Completely disrespectful': Does Taunton have a pet waste problem? What can be done?

TAUNTON — Taunton Parks & Rec Commissioner AJ Marshall is fed up with the waste left behind by dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets.

“A lot of the areas we’re responsible for, they are public areas that irresponsible pet owners use and allow their pets to go to the bathroom, not pick it up, and leave it for us,” said Marshall.

In parts of the downtown area, city staff are finding pet waste in the flower beds, tree rings, and even on the Taunton Green. Marshall said when staff are landscaping the green spaces in areas, sometimes gloveless, they often find themselves in for a disgusting surprise.

In parks and playgrounds, Marshall said pet owners are just letting their dogs go wherever.

“You have kids sitting on the grass that a dog just defecated in. It’s not just my staff dealing with this. It’s the public,” Marshall said.

He said there have been multiple incidents where staff members are mowing the lawn, push the mower over some waste, and, next thing you know, they have to change their clothes.

Marshall described one incident where a staff member of the Parks Department was landscaping, trimming and using a weedwhacker on shrubs and bushes, and, because they didn’t think to check the greenery beforehand, had feces “splattered on their face and clothes.”

“This goes beyond stepping in it. That’s part of the job. We have boot cleaners. No one should have it smeared on their faces because it wasn’t seen,” Marshall said.

City staff are even finding pet waste in the city’s cemeteries, on graves, Marshall said.

“They still walk their dogs there,” even though dogs aren’t allowed on the grounds, he said.

“Completely disrespectful!”

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Does Taunton have a pooper scooper law?

Chapter 191, Section 3, of Taunton City Code prohibits dog owners from letting their dogs defecate or urinate in any public sidewalk, municipally owned playground, park, or open space the public has access to.

What's the fine for violating it?

Chapter 191, Section 4, specifies a fine of $50 for each violation.

Marshall knows there isn’t a way to enforce the code regarding urination from dogs. But he would like to remind owners that uric acid contained in urine kills grass and the Parks Department spends much time and resources maintaining green spaces for them to be clean and beautiful for all of the public.

Regarding defecation by dogs, there isn’t any recorded enforcement of that violation. Taunton Police and Animal Control have no “citations on record having been issued for failure to pick up dog waste on public grounds in the City of Taunton,” said Ligia Madeira, Mayor Shaunna O'Connell's chief of staff.

Marshall added it's tough catching any dog owner in the act leaving behind waste.

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Something has to change

Marshall said managing pet waste is a problem that affects many cities and towns, especially communities near bodies of water.

“It’s bad for rivers and waterways,” he said, adding any pet waste left in public areas is both a “nuisance and a public health hazard.

Currently, the city is focused on education and finding practical solutions to this problem, rather than redirecting resources into enforcement, said Madeira.

“We’re all animal lovers. This is not about punishing owners. We just want to encourage everyone to work together to solve or reduce this problem,” she said. 

For education and marketing, the city is employing the services and cuteness of Taunton PD’s comfort dog, Maggie, to be the face of its campaign, reminding dog owners to bring disposable bags and “scoop the poop” left behind.

Designated pet waste spots under consideration

Marshall said there’s already plenty of signage in parks and playgrounds across the city reminding pet owners to pick up after their dogs.

In the urban core, such as the downtown area, Marshall said the city is contemplating the usefulness of setting up new designated spaces where pets were be permitted to do their business.

Marshall also said with new housing developments, like the Union Block, planned in the city, if these properties are planning on allowing pets, they need to consider incorporating “pet-friendly” areas for both managing pet waste and socialization, whether that’s green space adjacent to the building, or even installed on the rooftop.

A dog park?

The city has acknowledged the public’s desire to have a dog park through its Open Space and Recreation Plan.

“We are actively exploring and designing,” said Marshall. He isn’t yet willing to disclose where the park will go and when it will be completed, but said “it’s coming.”

Marshall added, while a dog park will be a welcome addition to the city, he doesn’t think it will solve pet waste issues in other parts of the city.

Possible solutions include more 'dog waste stations'

“The pet population is increasing in this area,” said Colleen Simmons, executive director of the Downtown Taunton Business Improvement District (BID).

Through a state earmark the city received through State Rep. Carol Doherty, D-Taunton, Simmons said the BID wants to try and minimize the pet waste issues in the downtown area with dog waste stations, which provide plastic, disposable gloves, as well as a receptacles for disposing of waste.

There are currently several dog waste stations installed in the downtown Taunton area: one in the Galligan’s Court parking lot area; one in the Trescott Street parking lot area; one in the Mill River walking across from the parking lot behind the police station, and a fourth one to be installed in August, in an unconfirmed space.

So far, Simmons said there has been a “noticeable improvement” as people have been using the stations. The BID is managing these stations, as they were its initiative, which didn’t involve the Parks Department.

Marshall said he’s impressed with the usefulness of the dog waste stations and is looking into incorporating them elsewhere, such as the parks, playgrounds and other areas in the city. 

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton has a dog pooper scooper problem, park & rec head says