Here’s the scoop:
When a dog does its duty, it’s generally unpleasant and potentially unhealthy, and no one really wants to stroll through a park or down a neighborhood sidewalk worrying about where to step.
But we think a new ordinance in Englewood oversteps government’s, well, duty.
Englewood residents now have just 72 hours to pick up their pet’s poo — in their own yards.
City officials are quick to point out there won’t be a poop patrol in this Denver suburb but that the policy is another means to enforce infractions if someone complains about undue piles in a neighbor’s property.
We understand the stink neighbors can raise, but most municipalities have found ways to respond to such concerns without over-the-top — or is it over-the-fence? — government intrusion.
In other cities, there is no poop-patrol timeline, but if a complaint is made, residents have to clean up the offending mess within a number of days or face a fine.
Of course, it could be worse. Other city governments are even more overzealous. The Los Angeles City Council recently approved a one-year moratorium on new fast-food restaurants within a 32-square-mile sector of the city, an area that predominately is home to low-income people.
It’s all in the name of health and fighting childhood obesity, but what happened to personal responsibility and free choice?
Government obviously has a role to play in public health and in neighborhood issues, so long as it doesn’t tread too heavily on personal property rights and infringe on liberties.
That said, we think Englewood should reconsider its dog poop law and get the heck off people’s lawns.
