Photo: Samantha Holomay

Trail council has issued a reminder to residents to be on the look out for poop-related offences.

A stinky situation has led Trail council to issue a reminder to community members to pick up their pets' waste.

During an April 14 council meeting, Tracey Butler, the general manager of corporate services and administration, issued the reminder following several complaints reported to the city of people not picking up after their pets.

Butler explained that community members have sent in videos of dogs making a mess in the neighbourhood, while the waste was not picked up by their owners.

“We need to pick up after our dogs. We have a few videos that show dogs pooping in the middle of the night and people not picking up after their dogs,” she said, adding a reminder that the bylaw ticket for not cleaning up after your pet is $50.

Coun. Nick Cashol inquired about what the channels council would have to go through if they wished to increase the fine.

“We would have to amend the animal control bylaw,” Butler explained.

“I’m just throwing this out there, I’m not making a motion, but $50 may be on the light side,” he said, suggesting the council could increase the fine to send a clearer message.

Butler explained that city has plans to bring the Animal Control Bylaw back to council for review with an updated fine appendix in 2025.

“The problem with the dog one is catching the people,” she said, with another councillor exclaiming that it's not the people that they have to catch but rather the pets making the mess.

“It's a tough one,” she continued to explain through laughter from the other councillors. “It’s really hard to enforce. The off-leash bylaw is way easier to enforce.”

The bylaw fine for having your dog off-leash outside the allowed areas is also $50. Butler suggested that the city may consider enacting a first, second and third-time offence law.

Although no formal motion was made, the city is asking residents to be on the lookout for these poop-related offences.