Residents Going After Dog Poop to Fight Rat Problem

While a pile of dog poop is surely something to avoid, for rats, it's a delicious gift of hearty food, falling from the sky.

As the city combats an ongoing rat problem throughout many neighborhoods, some residents who are fed up with the infestation are trying to get dog owners to clean up after their pets.

"Before I can mow my lawns along Florida Avenue, I have to go around with a small shovel to remove all the dog mess that some (not all) dog walkers have left behind," Christine MacWilliams said in a letter she handed out to more than 100 residents of Knightsville. "Leaving dog mess for others to pick up is a dirty nasty practice."

Not only that, rats eat pet waste and it can be a reliable food source in neighborhoods without restaurants, commercial dumpsters and where uncovered trash isn't a widespread problem.

"Dog and pet droppings are a fine staple for rodents, so is leaving pet food outside!" writes John O'Hern, who sent us an e-mail about a week ago."

Rats thrive when they have food, shelter and water, O'Hern said.

"Junk piled in yards like old tires, firewood, sheds with openings underneath and even dog houses are like rat condos and rats love to live in and under all of these!" he said. "Anything that can hold water like old buckets or basins are a great source of water. Last year I threw some bread out for the birds and within 3 minutes a rat was crawling out from a neighbors junk pile for brunch. I then saw the same rat climb right up into a 2 gallon bucket in my own yard to get a drink of water. I only had to see this once. NO FOOD, NO DRINK, NO HOME and they will move on."

Not picking up after a pet can get you in trouble with the city. Residents who see dog walkers not picking up are urged to call Animal Control at 464-8700.

MacWilliams, in her letter, said "if you see a dog walker that does not pick up, inform him/her that dog mess attracts RATS."