SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Spring not only heralds smells of fresh grass, flowers in bloom and meat cooking on backyard barbecues, but, unfortunately, it also brings back the smell of dog poop.

Amber, a Lhasa Apso, is pictured on the lap of her owner, Lhasa Apso, at Yellowknife River on May 22. Howe keeps plastic bags in her pocket at all times for clean up purposes. - Heather Lange/NNSL photo

Every year it's the same – once the snow melts, dog feces crops up everywhere across town, signalling that pet owners are not doing their duty.

Section 16 of the of the city's bylaw No. 4214 states "Where a dog defecates on any public or private property other than the property of it's owner, the owner shall cause such defecation to be removed immediately." The fine for not complying to this bylaw is a $40 for a licensed dog and $75 for a non-licensed dog.

Though the dog poop is on the ground for all to see, there has been but one fine handed out in the last year according to Mayor Gord Van Tighem. He said the city can only do so much.

"This is one of those tricky things to enforce," said Van Tighem.

"How much resources do you want to put behind this problem? Right now we are focusing on the litter problem and we are staying ahead of this issue. I was even picking up litter with the Rotary Club on the weekend," said Van Tighem.

He also confirmed that it is the city's responsibility to keep the streets and trails clean.

"Community Services Department with the city does clean the Frame Lake Trail, but not frequently enough to keep it perfect and people do notice it," Van Tighem said referring to the poop on the McMahon Frame Lake Trail.

He said it is not part of the responsibilities of the groups participating in the annual Yellowknife Spring Clean-up to pick up dog poop.

While Fred Henne Territorial Park is closed, from Sept. 15 to May 15, it is the responsibility of dog owners to clean up after their pets while walking them in the park, according to Tracy St. Denis, regional superintendent of the North Slave region for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

"We have free bags available and there has been an increase of bags being used this winter compared to previous years. People should be cleaning up after their dogs," said St. Denis.

She also mentioned that once Fred Henne Territorial Park opens each year, park staff clean up dog poop on a regular basis.

Jonathon Gaulton, 12, said the dog park that is located behind the Yellowknife Curling Club is regularly stocked with bags for picking up dog poop and he usually cleans up after his dog. Gaulton thought the city should do more about the dog poop problem.

"If the dog owners don't pick up the poop it's the city's responsibility, because they should keep the city clean," said Gaulton.

Keeping the dog park free of feces is not only for the benefit of the noses and shoes of dog owners, but for the health of the dogs themselves. Dr. Tom Pisz, veterinarian and owner of Great Slave Animal Hospital, warned there is a risk of dogs contracting worms when around fresh feces.

"The worms spread by fresh feces," said Pisz.

"When the concentration of fresh feces in one area is high, the higher chance of worm infestation or disease. I advise dog-owners with young puppies who are not immunized to not go to the dog park and dog-owners to de-worm and vaccinate their dog once a year. If you are taking a dog to a kennel or a place with a concentrated population of dogs regularly, you need to be de-worming your dog every three months," he said.

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