spectr17
05-17-2002, 11:46 PM
May. 16, 2002 ###
City's pet pooping policy purged
By Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal
CUYAHOGA FALLS - A great sigh of relief has come over thousands of pooches and felines: They can now relieve themselves guilt-free on the lawns of this community.
Since Monday, it has been legal for animals to defecate in the city.
For the past two decades, it has been illegal for any animal -- dogs, cats, horses or even hamsters -- to answer nature's call in public or private in Cuyahoga Falls.
City Law Director Virgil Arrington said the on-the-books ban was discovered recently after a resident complained that a neighbor's dog continually left behind unpleasant surprises in the yard.
City officials went to research the law and discovered that one section, adopted more than 20 years ago, orders pet owners to clean up after their animals.
But another section of the same ordinance explicitly prohibited defecation in Cuyahoga Falls by any animal. Doing so was a minor misdemeanor carrying a potential $100 fine.
``The ordinance was written stupidly,'' Arrington concedes.
Although the ban has been in place for years, Arrington said no one has been cited for defecation by an animal.
``They (the pets) have been going anyway,'' he said.
The confusion was cleared up this week by the City Council, which threw out the ban. Council members left in place the provision that orders pet owners to clean up after their animals.
``It's about time that the animals have a right to do what they need to do,'' joked Councilman Jerry James.
As chairman of the council's public affairs committee, which looked into the mistaken ban, James said he has heard about every poop pun possible.
``I just hope we have put an end to this,'' he said.
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Craig Webb can be reached at 330-723-7119 or cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com ###
City's pet pooping policy purged
By Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal
CUYAHOGA FALLS - A great sigh of relief has come over thousands of pooches and felines: They can now relieve themselves guilt-free on the lawns of this community.
Since Monday, it has been legal for animals to defecate in the city.
For the past two decades, it has been illegal for any animal -- dogs, cats, horses or even hamsters -- to answer nature's call in public or private in Cuyahoga Falls.
City Law Director Virgil Arrington said the on-the-books ban was discovered recently after a resident complained that a neighbor's dog continually left behind unpleasant surprises in the yard.
City officials went to research the law and discovered that one section, adopted more than 20 years ago, orders pet owners to clean up after their animals.
But another section of the same ordinance explicitly prohibited defecation in Cuyahoga Falls by any animal. Doing so was a minor misdemeanor carrying a potential $100 fine.
``The ordinance was written stupidly,'' Arrington concedes.
Although the ban has been in place for years, Arrington said no one has been cited for defecation by an animal.
``They (the pets) have been going anyway,'' he said.
The confusion was cleared up this week by the City Council, which threw out the ban. Council members left in place the provision that orders pet owners to clean up after their animals.
``It's about time that the animals have a right to do what they need to do,'' joked Councilman Jerry James.
As chairman of the council's public affairs committee, which looked into the mistaken ban, James said he has heard about every poop pun possible.
``I just hope we have put an end to this,'' he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Craig Webb can be reached at 330-723-7119 or cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com ###