Animal Waste

Dog or other animal waste can be disposed of in your household trash, flushed down the toilet, or, if it is in a tied bag, discarded in a public litter basket.

DO NOT put animal waste, soiled bedding, or kitty litter into Curbside Composting or Recycling.

Dog owners and dog walkers are responsible for cleaning up dog waste in all public areas. 

Property owners are responsible for keeping the public areas near their property clean. This includes:

• Sidewalks (including tree pits and grass strips)
• Gutter areas (18 inches from the curb into the street)
• Open front yards
  

You are responsible for removing animal waste in these areas, even if it does not belong to your pet or is from a wild animal. You may get a ticket for waste you should have picked up but didn't — even if you filed a complaint.

Report animal waste not picked up by a property owner.

Pooper Scooper Law

DSNY enforces the Pooper Scooper Law by investigating public areas with frequent complaints of people not picking up after their dogs.

If you are caught failing to clean up after your dog, you may be fined up to $250.

If you know a public area where people frequently fail to pick up after their dogs, you can request surveillance to catch the Pooper Scooper violators.

What you need

• Location of the public area where the offenses occur
  
• Dates and timeframes they occur
  
• Your contact information (we may contact you if they need more information)
  

What you can't report

• Guide dogs or other service animals
  
• Dogs urinating on public or private property
  

Report a location where dog walkers don't pick up after their dogs.

Learn more about reporting dog or animal waste in parks or on private property.