Lorri Drumm

The snow has melted, at least for now, and soon it should be replaced with greenery for a while.

This time of year isn’t the prettiest as stuff hidden by the white blanket appears. Brown leaves and random bits of garbage are expected.

Stuff that wound up in front of a home when the temperatures where frigid isn’t unexpected. But, stepping in stuff, a large pile of fresh stuff, that clearly recently wound up right next to where you put your garbage can — not cool. Also not legal in the city.

Don’t even try to label me a dog-hater. I love dogs. In fact, I probably love dogs more than many humans. I have shared my life with dogs for as long as I can remember. I have multiple adorable furry granddogs.

I don’t, however, love the multiple piles of fresh doggy doodoo in front of my home. Especially if it’s dark out and you don’t see it. Instead, you feel a squish under your foot. As the smell starts to reach your nose, you mumble, “please let it be mud.”

So, for those of you who prefer to let your furry friend do it’s business in someone else’s yard and then leave it there, this is to remind you that there are rules and regulations. In this day and age, there are also plenty of recording devices that can capture your crappy behavior.

So here’s a little refresher for the poopy-scooping violators.

According to the City of Warren’s Summary of Proposed Code Adoption Ordinance Part II under General Legislation, section 149, Animals:

¯149-16 Restrictions on Animal Defecation on public and private property:

No person having possession, custody or control of any animal shall knowingly or negligently permit any dog or other animal to commit any nuisance, i.e., defecation or urination, upon any gutter, street, driveway, alley, curb or sidewalk in the City of Warren, or upon the floors or stairways of any building or place frequented by the public or used in common by the tenants, or upon the outside walls, walkways, driveways, alleys, curbs or stairways of any building abutting on a public street or park, or upon the grounds of any public park or public area, or upon any private property, except as provided in 149-17.

¯ 149-17 Disposal of animal feces:

Any person having possession, custody or control of any dog or other animal which commits a nuisance, i.e., defecation or urination, in any area, as prohibited in 149-16 shall be required to immediately remove any feces from such surface and either;

A. Carry same away for disposal in a toilet; or

B. Place same in a nonleaking container for deposit in a trash or litter receptacle.

¯ 149-18

Exemptions:

The provisions of 149-16 and 149-17 hereof shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind persons or to a dog used to assist any other physically handicapped person.

¯149-19 Violations and penalties:

Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 plus costs and, in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.

Lorri Drumm was transplanted to both Warren and its newspaper in 2018. Since then, every day has started with visions of Conewango Creek and ended with a little bit more knowledge of the local area. A former reporter from Crawford County, Drumm’s resume includes a 10-week internship at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and an almost fellowship at Marquette University.