Friday's Internet Edition, September 05, 2008.
dog lovers to pick
up after their pets
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| Moravian Bishop Lane Sapp, left, a Clemmons native, installed Suzanne Parker Miller of Clemmons as a deacon in the Moravian Church on Sunday in a service at Raleigh Moravian. |
The Clemmons Courier - The Clemmons village council unanimously approved Monday a dog feces control ordinance that became effective immediately.
Dog owners and custodians while off their own property must remove and dispose of the feces from public or private property. They must have a device such as a plastic bag or container with them and show it to a deputy upon request. Penalties are $50 for the first violation; $75 for the second; $100 for the third and subsequent violations.
“This gives our sheriff’s department a tool where they don’t have a tool now,” said council member Mary Cameron, adding that it helps improve the quality of storm water run-off.
“I get quite annoyed by people who do not clean up after their dogs,” said council member Al Harbury, who regularly leads a 113-pound dog around Clemmons. “It’s easier to call people on it if there is an ordinance.”
Council member Larry McClellan questioned whether it was a good use of deputies’ time. “It’s virtually impossible to enforce,” he said. “The question is whether it’s a serious problem.”
“Why not have this ordinance if we know every dog isn’t going to be followed by a deputy?” Cameron asked.
Clemmons village manager Gary Looper said such an ordinance is commonplace among many municipalities, but a deputy would generally have to see the violation to issue a citation.