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Watch your step

Time for doggie-do clean-up

Phil Duffy
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 02/01) - Holy nasal nastiness Batman, what's that terrible odour? That would be dog excrement, Boy Wonder, I seem to have trodden in ordinary, everyday dog crap.

It's that time of year again, spring has sprung, the grass has riz, and we all know where the dog stool is.

"It's not hard to spot or find," said Yellowknife resident Brian Dragon. "As a matter of fact, it's avoiding it that is the real problem."

When it comes to the city's streets the problem is usually adequately handled by the street sweepers. As for the sidewalks, it is the responsibility of the property owner.

"As soon as the snow melts a bit more and our summer crew starts operating we will be doing a thorough clean-up of all the parks, trails and other open spaces like baseball diamonds," said Dennis Jefferson, outdoor supervisor for community services.

Under the dog bylaw there is a $70 fine for anyone who is caught not stoopin'-n-scoopin' after their dog does its business in public.

"We are currently working on the garbage bylaw so that it will include private property owners who own dogs and do not clean up their yards in the spring," said bylaw officer Doug Gillard.

In previous years it was up to the board of health to pressure homeowners who were delinquent in cleaning up what amounts to their outside dog's toilet.

Environmental health officer Brad Colpitts remembers a funny story about this type of situation.

"One spring this certain father told his son to go out and clean up after the family's two large dogs.

Apparently the father wasn't crystal clear on the details because a short time later the board of health was knocking on his door."

"It seems that the boy was out there shovelling the winter excrement build-up directly over the fence onto the neighbour's property," he said.

A good rule of thumb to prevent potential salmonella or E-coli from having your mouth come in contact with feces-soiled hands is to make sure you wash them regularly.

"Washing your hands regularly is, bar none, the single most effective means of preventing infectious diseases," added Colpitts.