NEW YORK: New York lawmakers on Friday proposed a pile of measures to rid dog poop from the city´s streets and parks after residents raised a stink over the issue.
“We´ve all experienced it before, that instantaneous feeling of deep regret right after you stepped in it, something that´s much too soft to be concrete,” Julie Menin, the city council speaker, told reporters.
She cited a 35 per cent hike in dog poop complaints in early 2026 from a year earlier, largely blamed on a winter storm that exposed weeks of uncollected waste when snow and ice melted.
The so-called SCOOP Act includes provisions for more dog waste bags in parks and signage to encourage owners to clean up after their pets. It would also launch a pilot program to compost the poop at some city-managed dog runs.
A council vote on the bill is expected at a later date.
Menin said the SCOOP Act is not punitive and instead is aimed at “encouraging dog owners to do the right thing.”
“Let´s make no bones about it. Today is not about blaming dogs or their loved ones who care for them,” she said.
“It´s about giving people more resources and gentle reminders to better care for their furry friends and their communities.”
City lawmakers are also promoting a new NYC Scoop Patrol that will organize community dog-waste cleanup events.
It is illegal to not clean up after your dog in New York, but authorities say that enforcement has been inconsistent.
