Complaints are on the rise.
Sidewalks littered with waste and difficult to navigate have become a frustrating aspect of New York City’s ongoing trash issue, especially concerning dog waste. Reports are at an all-time high.
A video showing a particularly disgusting section of Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx gained attention online. As thoughtless pet owners walk away from their pets’ messes, people are hesitant to clean up, weeks after severe weather and snow impacted the area.
“It’s awful. There’s trash and poop everywhere,” shared Lulu Gerena, a 28-year-old resident of Mott Haven, while walking her beagle mix, Pinkie, near the unpleasant area.
“It’s not fair because everyone has to step in it, and no one takes responsibility,” she added, clearly frustrated.
Many locals are fed up with those neglecting their duties, turning sidewalks into unkempt thoroughfares.
From January 25 to the present, the city’s 311 system logged an astonishing 643 calls about dog waste, a nearly 94% rise from 332 complaints during the same timeframe last year. The number is even more shocking compared to just two weeks ago, marking a 160% increase.
“This might be the worst situation ever,” lamented Ryan F., 31, a dog owner who attributes the rise in waste to new housing projects that increased the dog population in Mott Haven.
“Honestly, it wasn’t this bad until the snow came,” remarked Bronxito Jusun, 45. “When it’s cold, I think people just want to be outside without dealing with the mess.”
The area in question, ironically marked with signs instructing dog owners to clean up after their pets, doesn’t even rank as the dirtiest in the city according to data.
Most complaints have come from Brooklyn’s 49th Street in Sunset Park and Fort Washington Avenue in Washington Heights, which each recorded 28 complaints since the recent snowfall.
Washington Heights has seen the highest totals of complaints across neighborhoods since the snowstorm, tallying 66 complaints.
Further complaints emerged from areas like Sunset Park, Flatbush, Midwood, Kensington, Central Harlem, and Highbridge.
Residents and some city council members are voicing their frustrations, suggesting that the visibility of dog waste against the snow is amplifying the issue.
“Come get your dog!” expressed Chi O-se, a City Council member from Brooklyn, on X.
“Unlike human waste, dog waste is a public health hazard. It spreads germs and creates unsafe conditions for vulnerable individuals,” added Brooklyn City Councilmember Shahana Hanif. “Failing to clean up is irresponsible and risky for everyone.”
The anger follows reports of a surge in complaints related to dog waste after the recent storm.
The Department of Health mentioned it hasn’t issued violations since January 25, largely due to all hands being on deck for snow removal efforts during the frigid conditions.
Even now, despite temperatures dropping back below freezing, complaints continue to flood in, with nearly 70 new calls reported on Tuesday alone.
Department of Sanitation officials noted that enforcing poop-picking laws is tricky in regular scenarios since officers need to observe owners leaving waste behind. Only two citations were issued throughout 2025.
“We’ve done special patrols in areas with numerous 311 calls but have seen almost no leads,” an official noted. “It’s highly unlikely that someone would neglect their duty in front of an officer.”
“People seem to take advantage of the moments when they think no one’s watching.”
