Horsham Asks Dog Owners to Dispose of Poop

Bend. Scoop. Bag. Trash.

It may sound simple, but the last part of that equation seems to be missing lately as dog owners, after bagging their pet's waste, have instead been throwing it in fields along the PECO Power Line Trail in Horsham, according to officials. 

Mark Hudson, Horsham's Park and Recreation director, said an employee spent two days this week removing "several hundred bags" of dog waste from the weeds, trees and field areas along the trail. The particularly problematic areas included the Dresher Road to Norristown Road portion, he said. 

"This stretch seems to be the worst area," Hudson said, adding that employees had to climb "seven feet into trees" to remove dog waste thrown there. "That's people being inappropriate."

The township provides green dog waste bags for pet owners, as well as trash receptacles to collect the bags and other refuse. Until this week, Hudson said four trash cans were in place along the trail, with the furthest being 4-10ths of a mile apart from the next one. But, after picking up mountains of waste, Hudson said an additional trash can has been added so that receptacles are in place every quarter mile of the trail. 

Besides the estimated $500 manpower cost to have staff clean up the dog waste, Hudson said the bags themselves–at $2,700 a year–are expensive too. For that price, the township receives 70,000 bags. But, filling the bags and leaving them for others to pick up sort of defeats the purpose, Hudson said. 

"We're definitely not against dog owners by any means," Hudson said. "We just want them to clean up after themselves."

Bruce Smith said he frequently walks his dog, Dutchess, along the trail. Smith said he, too, has noticed the dog waste litter of late. 

"They seem to put them in a bag and toss them in the high grass," Smith said. 

Horsham Park and Recreation Chairwoman Mary Dare said she's also heard complaints recently about dogs roaming unleashed, or frolicking in parks where dogs are not permitted. 

With the exception of the dog park within Kohler Park, Hudson said dogs must be on a leash while in township parks. Dogs are only permitted to walk on the power line trail and in Kohler Park, he said.