311 data: Nearly 700 complaints about dog waste filed in Brooklyn last year
Despite the complaints, the Department of Sanitation issued just 13 citations to dog owners citywide in 2023.
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Brooklyn may be the dirtiest borough when it comes to dog waste, according to 311 data.
News 12 found nearly 700 311 complaints about dog waste were filed in Brooklyn last year, leading the city.
Queens ranked second.
"When you leave dog poop out, other than being a nuisance, it's a health risk to other animals," said a Brooklyn resident.
Despite the complaints, the Department of Sanitation issued just 13 citations to dog owners citywide in 2023.
Officials say workers must catch a dog in the act to issue a fine, making enforcement difficult.
To address the issue, the department says it patrols high-complaint areas and is exploring the use of mobile cameras to identify violators.
"When you walk around, you really have to watch where you're going," another resident said. "It’s a lack of caring."
The Sanitation Department also issued 73,000 summonses to property owners for dirty sidewalks last year, even if the waste didn’t belong to their pets.
