'Poopetrator' Outreach Encourages Dog Adopters To Pick Up...Good Habits

'Poopetrator' Outreach Encourages Dog Adopters To Pick Up...Good Habits"Y U No Pickup" dog poop sign. | Photo: throgers/Flickr 
Fiona Lee
Published on May 22, 2017

Sporting a smiling poop emoji, District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang announced the launch of a new program that targets scofflaw dog guardians who don't pick up after their pets.

Launched last Friday, the Pet Owners Outreach Program (POOP) is a campaign aimed at educating people who adopt dogs from shelters. Developed with San Francisco Animal Care and Control (SFACC) and San Francisco SPCA, the program provides information on poop-pickup laws and includes a waste dispenser and bags with each adoption.

The POOP program launched outside Sunset Pet Supply. | Photo: Ashley Summers/Office of Supervisor Katy Tang

With 200,000 dogs in San Francisco, poop is a persistent quality-of-life issue found on city streets and parks, with neighbors emailing city officials like Tang and frequently discussing the matter on community forums like Nextdoor.

According to Sanford Johnson, owner of Sunset Pet Supply and a veteran dog walker, the main reasons people fail to pick up waste are distraction, laziness, and, in some cases, denial.

Noting that pet waste bags are the most popular item at his shop, Johnson said that it was frustrating that "poopetrators" gave dog walkers a bad reputation. 

“Almost every professional dog walker you will meet makes it a point to pick up every turd they come across, whether it is their dog or not,” he said. “Either we pick it up today, or we'll be stepping in it tomorrow.” 

Dog poop signs in the Mission in 2010. | Photo: whizchickenonabun/Flickr

Tang, who has a dog and represents the Outer Sunset and Parkside, pointed to her family's own experiences and frustrations with dog poop. She told Hoodline that her parents' yard in the Sunset is frequently dotted with dog droppings, despite posted signs and spiky plants that were installed combat the problem. 

Because ACC lacks the staff to enforce poop-scoop laws and its officers are focused on preventing animal abuse, Tang said outreach to people who adopt through shelters will be a critical part of changing human behavior.

The POOP campaign will also include a social media component: through the end of the month, participants can take a photo of themselves with the hashtag #notapoopetrator for a chance to win a tour of the City Hall dome. 

There have been previous attempts to address the issue, including the installation of pet waste dispensers, many of which have now been vandalized. Memorably, Supervisor Harvey Milk first came to national attention with the "Poop the Scoop Act" of 1978.