Can People be Cited for Not Cleaning Up After Their Dogs?

I'm going to give you the scoop on the poop: Anyone not cleaning up after his or her dog in Novato could indeed be cited.

There are many consequences for not controlling your dog. Issues of trespassing, property damage, noise and littering could also potentially come into play depending on the circumstances, and penalties can range from a warning to fines to impounding your animal.

There are city ordinances and there are county ordinances that deal with animals, and a number of jurisdictions can enforce regulations. The Novato-based , the Marin County Sherriff’s Office and can all issue citations pertaining to animal control issues. 

Novato police Lt. John McCarthy said there is a section of the municipal code (Chapter X, section 10-33) that pertains to owners of dogs properly depositing of their dog's waste. However, the section specifically talks about Dogbone Meadow, the dog park on Novato Boulevard near San Marin High School.

"I believe we would use that section if a situation rose to the level of police involvement and there was no other solution to the problem," McCarthy said. "I have not seen or heard of such an incident that ended in a citation, but after 24 years of doing this job, I’m not ever surprised about what we respond to.”

The topic of animal control raised a countywide stink a while back. In 2008 the Marin County Civil Grand Jury took it up in a study and then presented a report to Marin’s joint powers authority. The intention was to review the operations and economics of animal control in Marin County. It also looked at the Marin Humane Society’s dual role as both a private nonprofit organization and as a contractor to the county for animal control services.   

The report titled “Tails of Marin” stated this in one of the nine findings: “Pet-owner compliance with leash laws, noise ordinances and waste pickup is dismal. The need continues for improved enforcement of local animal control ordinances.” Most of the municipalities did not agree with every aspect of that finding, and not all concurred with the recommendation that that the county, city and humane society staffs take appropriate steps to improve pet-owner compliance with animal control. The steps suggested included holding public workshops and conducting public education efforts.

Ross, Mill Valley and Belvedere agreed wholeheartedly to the recommendation, but the other seven municipalities of the Marin JPA, including the Marin County Board of Supervisors and the Humane Society, disagreed in whole or in part. Most cited financial constraints and staff resource issues.  

So now you can make an informed decision the next time Fido decides to go where he shouldn’t. And I hope we can all agree that our PD has more important “poop” to handle than to deal with negligent pet owners.   

I’ll close with my favorite part of the Grand Jury report. It was a quote on its cover page from “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery:

“The fox said to the little prince: Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You remain responsible, forever, for that which you have tamed.”

HELPFUL LINKS

* Ordinance No. 3377 (Marin County Board of Supervisors – Amending Title 8 of the Marin County Code Addressing Animals)

* County Ordinance

* Novato Municipal Code  (see Chapter III – Animal Control)

* Marin County Civil Grand Jury report, “Tails of Marin”

* Responses by town to the Grand Jury Report