On December 22, 2008, the City of Ironton passed Ordinance 08-108 – Removal of Animal Waste, in an effort to address the sanitary concerns of animal waste along our neighborhood yards and sidewalks.

(a)     Any person owning, keeping, possessing, walking, controlling or harboring any dog or cat shall promptly remove and dispose of all feces left by the dog or cat on any public property and/or private property, including; public walks, streets or right-of- ways, recreation areas or private property, other than his or her own, or lawfully occupied by such person.

(b)     Any person violating any provision of division (a) of this section shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100).

What to Do with Waste

Scientists have discovered that animal waste is a major cause of water pollution, and that such pollution poses a significant hazard to human health.

In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says pet waste is a significant cause of water body contamination in areas where there are high concentrations of dogs.

Canine waste contains bacteria with almost unpronounceable names: fecal streptococcus and fecal coliforms are just two examples. In sufficiently high amounts, these bacteria can make people sick.

Dog waste also contains other not-so-lovely disease-transmitting organisms such as roundworms.

Bag It!

The quickest, easiest way to get rid of animal waste is to put it in a plastic bag and either drop the bag in a trash can or flush the bag’s contents down a toilet.

If you are a recycling enthusiast, this is a great opportunity to put your passion to work. Everyone has plastic bags they obtain from the grocery store.

Upon making sure the bag is free from holes, (1) Pull the plastic bag over one hand like a glove. (If you’re cleaning up while walking your dog, loop the leash around your wrist and pull the bag over the leashed hand.), (2) Pick up the waste with your bagged hand, (3) With your other hand, grasp the open end of the bag and pull the bag inside out. The waste will now be inside the bag, (4) Knot the bag and drop it into the nearest trash can.

What an efficient way to recycle as well as keeping our neighborhoods neat and clean. We would like to thank everyone for taking responsibility and helping us fulfill our mission to look up and move forward.

Rich Blankenship is Ironton’s mayor.