THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701090005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 27 lines
If a person wants a dog, he needs to take care of it. That includes cleaning up after it does its thing. This issue is a matter of responsibility. Someone who throws a bag of trash or soda can on the side of the road, or onto another person's property, is no less irresponsible than the pet owner who is too lazy to scoop the poop that the pup leaves behind.
We live in communities that share common ground. Parks, sidewalks, fields are used by and belong to everyone in that neighborhood. It only makes sense that we all should be responsible enough to pick up after ourselves and our beloved pets.
So for all you responsible pet owners out there, thanks! But for those irresponsible pet owners, Virginia Beach, and probably the other cities, have a city code requiring pet owners to clean up after their pets on all public and private land. If convicted, it's a Class 4 misdemeanor. Anyone can file a charge through the city magistrate of the 1st Precinct against someone breaking this code.
The bottom line is: Be a responsible pet owner!
JOHN R. SCHAFER
Virginia Beach, Jan. 3, 1997