Well, Sh*t: These Brooklyn Neighborhoods Complain Most About Dog Poop
This isn’t a new issue for our readers: from Park Slope to Bensonhurst, neighbors continue to obsess over what to do with abandoned dog poop. Dog waste left on the street is, well, disgusting, but also dangerous, as it can make its way into our water supply if not disposed of correctly.
The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) enforces the Pooper Scooper Law in the city and investigates locations where dog walkers often fail to pick up after their dogs – but to issue a violation they have to catch the offender in the act. There’s a spike in complaints in February and March, once the snow starts to melt and all the surprises come afloat.
According to a Renthop study, Brooklyn, overall, had fewer dog waste complaints this year, with a total of 468 to date. Last year there were 600.
Ocean Hill has most complaints in Brooklyn per 10k of households, with a whopping 42 complaints for the last two years–given the neighborhood is tiny, with just 11,686 households.
Some neighborhoods experienced an uptick in poop complaints, such as Sunset Park and Bath Beach with twice the amount of complaints since last year, and Flatbush complaints rose from 21 to 26 in 2019.
There is some improvement in the borough: North Bushwick has seen a dramatic fall of complaints. Last year 17 complaints were rung in, and this year there were only 6 per 18,885 households. Manhattan Beach and Sheepshead Bay also saw fewer complaints this year: 17 in comparison to last year’s 21. Is it better or are the folks just giving up?
Williamsburg, Fort Greene, and Brooklyn Heights, among others, are considered the cleanest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, or else just have the chillest neighbors. No poop complaints so far this year to 311.
Generally, the higher the rent, the fewer the poop complaints a neighborhood receives, Renthop found. North Bushwick’s fall could potentially be explained as a side effect of gentrification.
Don’t worry Brooklyners, the poopiest neighborhood is in Queens: Middle Village with a relatively small amount of 14,899 households, had 86 complaints this year. We’re gonna be okay. Generally, according to the 311 data, the number of reported poop complaints has decreased since 2011.
How can we continue to tackle this issue? Complain away here. To actually punish anyone for taking the sidewalk for granted, a city agent must see the crime taking place (owner shamelessly walking away from their animal’s doodoo) in order to give a ticket, the maximum fine is $250.