Dogs

Sign in front of a building on 14th Street.  Why? because there are too many dogs in NYC.  This is probably a very controversial subject.  People feel that their pet is a part of the family.  Many families in NYC are comprise of one person and a dog becomes their partner in all things.  They take them to the bookstore, supermarket, deli, and luncheonette.  Many businesses in my neighborhood leave bowls of water and 'treats' inside the store for their customers' pets.  Dogs are outlawed in any establishment that serves food, but many people ignore that.

 Many areas in the city that were once for the sole use of vegetation, benches, and playgrounds now give some of that space to 'doggie parks'.  In my neighborhood there are 3 parks, Stuyvesant Park, Tompkins Square Park, and Washington Square Park.  Each one now has a doggie park.  For the record, one of the best relationships I had growing up was with my dog Duke.  I know why people love their dogs.
However, there are 7 billion people in the world.  In the U.S. we spend over $50 billion on our pets.  There are 1.4 million dogs in NYC.  We have a pooper scooper law in NYC but it is not strictly enforced.  Let's say 99% of dog owners pick up after their dogs.  That means 14,000 dog poops are left on our streets at least once a day.  All of the dogs, 1.4 million, are peeing on our trees and plants and streets.  Urine kills the trees and the plants.  Yes, the dog urine and poop is eventually washed away when it rains but it goes untreated into our waterways.
What can be done?  I think people here in NYC are woefully uneducated about their pet.  A dog needs a yard, some space.  Our city needs its plants and trees and waterways to be pristine. Maybe we need sandy doggie walks on the street where a pet can do his business and it can be removed.