THERE IS NO POOP FAIRY
October 8, 2020
For years dog owners have allowed their dogs to run off leash on the Shoreline Middle School playing field, even though there are signs at both entrances to the area prohibiting dogs from the filed, leashed or not.
In early 2020, the natural grass of the field was replaced with plastic turf. It didn't take long for dog owners to disobey the prohibition, leaving their dog's calling card on the blue turf.
June 23, 2020
View this heartfelt video by Sam, a concerned CA State Parks ranger. He offers many reasons for keeping dogs leashed as well as for picking up their feces. Thanks, Sam!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=276369370141884
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=276369370141884
April 26, 2019
Two Mallards, fortunately oblivious to the plastic bag in their habitat.
January 14, 2018
On a trail in the Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
(Click to enlarge)
(Click to enlarge)
June 1, 2017
Walking a lot of dogs at once requires keen eyes. Two dog walkers, each with multiple dogs, missed this as it fell in Twin Lakes State Park. They turned onto another trail before we met them. Just yards past where they had been, we dodged this pile of fresh, wet poop. The problem with walking so many dogs is that it can be difficult to keep tabs on each one, as this feces left in the middle of the path demonstrates. Dog walkers, please be careful!
January 16, 2017
This dog owner's unleashed dog made two piles between the Lagoon outflow and 23rd Avenue. He used two different pieces of driftwood to cover up the piles.
Two violations of County Code Chapter 6.12 Animal Control Laws -- Leash Law (6.12.020) and Animal Defecation Prohibited (6.12.080). In addition to the law, shouldn't an intelligent and/or caring individual realize that the feces will be scattered along the shoreline by storm and tidal action ... or even stepped in by other people? Do we bury human feces wherever we decide it is okay to take a dump?
Two violations of County Code Chapter 6.12 Animal Control Laws -- Leash Law (6.12.020) and Animal Defecation Prohibited (6.12.080). In addition to the law, shouldn't an intelligent and/or caring individual realize that the feces will be scattered along the shoreline by storm and tidal action ... or even stepped in by other people? Do we bury human feces wherever we decide it is okay to take a dump?
January 2, 2017 - Corcoran Lagoon Beach
March 22, 2016
From Corcoran Lagoon Beach to inner Corcoran Lagoon via the tidal in/flow out/flow. More plastic dumped into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, along with canine feces.
February 1, 2016
After a January 30 storm, this is left. There were many more bags of dog feces but fortunately someone was picking them up before they could be photographed. Others ended up in the ocean. Of course.
December 25, 2015
A walk through Twin Lakes State Park spoiled by yet another bag of dog feces, left behind along the trail. It is rare to walk through the park without seeing one or two such baggies of poop. This bag sat in its spot for two hours from the time of its discovery. Happy Christmas brought to us by irresponsible dog owners.
December 18, 2015
Seabright State Beach has invasive ice plant at its main entrance (left hand picture) and also at its harbor jetty path entrance (right hand picture). Dogs, either leashed or unleashed, find the ice plant perfect for their poop. Where are the owners? Why do they think it is okay to use public beaches as toilets for their dogs? Questions with no answers.
July 3, 2015
Seven off-leash dogs. Ironic that there was so little activity yesterday when an Animal Services officer arrived, but we'll keep reporting and encouraging their patrols. Today, one woman with two off-leash dogs was trying to scrape sand over a dog drop as we approached. We mentioned that there are bags available but the dog owner said it was too difficult to pick up as it wasn't solid. Apparently it never occurred to her that she was leaving feces behind for children to step in.
February 4, 2015
Report #1 - At Corcoran Lagoon Beach. This picture was taken at 9:22 am, when there were no dogs remaining on the beach. A person walking by - without a dog took this item to the garbage cans.
Report #2 - I live on the way to the beach. The pile (below) was dropped along my front fence from my good doggie neighbors. This usually happens either early in the morning or late in the evening.
February 1, 2015
32nd Avenue beach, ready to be washed out with the tide.
January 22, 2015
At 9:25 this morning a woman, with an unleashed black dog, walked from 20th Ave. beach to the rocks at 23rd. Approaching 23rd the dog runs ahead of her and over to the very small patch of ice plants closest to the ocean. The dog obviously knew where it was going. Did it's business. Someone down there whistled at the owner, got her attention and pointed to her dog defecating. She looked at the person and then at her dog, did nothing about it and walked back towards 20th. Pictures tell the story. One fresh pile and five piles growing fur.
January 13 - 20, 2015
The same bag of poop, six days in a row, awaiting the Poop Fairy. It was finally picked up on the 20th by a woman that frequently cleans the beach. She also picked up a green plastic bag with dog poop in it that was partially buried in the sand.
January 8, 2015
People come to the beach, let their dogs off-leash, and chat amongst themselves, while their dogs do what unleashed dogs do, including doo doo. Oh, dog owners always pick up the poo and most of the time even carefully tie a knot in the plastic bag. Then set the bag some place...and forget it.
Why did the County ban single-use plastic shopping bags but provide them for free (at the annual cost of thousands of dollars) to foul the beaches? Are plastic bags more environmentally friendly than dog feces? Is that it maybe?
The bags in the first two pictures were there for 24 hours, despite the fact that a member of an off-leash group was nearby. Three different people sat on the log, beside the plastic bag of poo without removing it (second picture). On January 9, two bags are now visible in the third picture, with another floater in the lagoon outflow (fourth picture).
Why did the County ban single-use plastic shopping bags but provide them for free (at the annual cost of thousands of dollars) to foul the beaches? Are plastic bags more environmentally friendly than dog feces? Is that it maybe?
The bags in the first two pictures were there for 24 hours, despite the fact that a member of an off-leash group was nearby. Three different people sat on the log, beside the plastic bag of poo without removing it (second picture). On January 9, two bags are now visible in the third picture, with another floater in the lagoon outflow (fourth picture).
January 5, 2015
As an insult to the Marine Sanctuary, this bag of dog feces was floating in the outflow, close to the 23rd Avenue rip rap.
November 7, 2014
5:30 pm One man had two dogs -- one on-leash and one off-leash. On his eastbound walk, one of his dogs defecated. He stopped, bagged it and left the bag on the beach. On his return trip, he walked past the bag and did not pick it up.
August 20, 2014
Three bags of dog poop in first 200 feet from parking lot. The third bag was picked up by the owner who had placed it there. Nice of one person to leave a particularity large bag close to a picnic table. The person that placed the bag in the third picture apparently has no respect for the dead, placing the bag within two feet of a memorial. She did pick it up later.
August 1, 2014
11:20 am It was a day of fives: five dogs off-leash, five dogs on-leash and five dog piles on the rock shelf. Two photos. One shows two piles of feces, one in the foreground and one in the background. The other shows feces, feces, feces.
July 17, 2014
July 25, 2014
10:30 am Noticed one uncollected dog pile on the rock shelf with dog pile in foreground and some surfers in the background.
April 21, 2014
9:00 am Dog toy and bags of feces, on log near shorebird nesting area. Bags still there in the afternoon, apparently forgotten by dog owner(s).
Monday, May 27, 2013 - Poop Report
10:05 am At the corner of East Cliff and Opal Cliff a three year old coming in the opposite direction warns me to "Look out for dog poop." Sure enough there was a trail where some one had left it, apparently too late to get to the beach (aka the public communal dog bathroom).
10:15 am. Opal Cliff Drive on-leash dog poops in the middle of the traffic lanes. Owner stops to pick it up. Traffic stops.
10:25 am On leash Chihuahua goes under fence onto private property and poops under "No trespassing sign." Dog's owner tells the dog that she has the plastic bags on her side off the fence. Dog owner starts to climb over fence and then aborts effort. It was either too much effort or she could read the sign better than her dog. My companion remarked "Why didn't she pull the dog back through the fence instead of talking to it?"
10:15 am. Opal Cliff Drive on-leash dog poops in the middle of the traffic lanes. Owner stops to pick it up. Traffic stops.
10:25 am On leash Chihuahua goes under fence onto private property and poops under "No trespassing sign." Dog's owner tells the dog that she has the plastic bags on her side off the fence. Dog owner starts to climb over fence and then aborts effort. It was either too much effort or she could read the sign better than her dog. My companion remarked "Why didn't she pull the dog back through the fence instead of talking to it?"
Saturday, May 25, 2013 - Poop Report
4:30 pm - Saw a man walking two dogs to 23rd Avenue beach. One dog had a display of plastic bags on it's collar. One dog defecated on the side of the road. The pile was not picked up. The second dog made it to the edge of the beach where it defecated. The owner stopped and pretended to pick the pile up, but he didn't touch the pile. Plastic bags remained unused.
October 31, 2013
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Dogs and their poop:
June 16, 2013
There were two dog piles - one on wet sand by lagoon outflow and one on dry sand on some kelp.
Wednesady, January, 16, 2013
During a 30 minute walk up 26th Avenue, down East Cliff past the library, along the trail between Portola and East Cliff, down the 19th Avenue stairs, I took pictures of eight poop bags thrown over the fence on Portola and into the bushes lining the bank of Rodeo Creek, into where they will eventually fall and then float into Corcoran Lagoon.
Friday, January 18, 2013
There were three plastic bags, containing you know what, in close proximity to each other. One of which was hidden behind a log. A couple came over to sit on the log that had a bag on it. The woman picked up the bag on the log and the one on the sand and walked towards me. I asked her "Are they yours?" She replied "No," and placed the bags on another log before she and her partner sat on the log that had originally had a bag on it.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
As I walked off the beach I noticed a plastic bag containing the usual matter, waiting for the Poop Fairy to pick it up. It was still there six hours later. I pointed it out to someone who said that they pick up two or three bags a day. They didn't pick that one up.