Image copyright REUTERS Image caption The city has tried creating a safer path for dogs by giving them streets of their own
Dog owners in the city of Toronto now have new bins to store dog waste.
In one pilot area, there are 48 of the boxes.
The bins were originally supposed to be a pilot in several neighbourhoods – including Barrie and Oshawa – in 2016.
But in 2017, the city council – the Toronto Region Board of Trade – lobbied for the project to be expanded to more neighbourhoods.
Image copyright Barrie – City of Oshawa Image caption ‘Please pick up your dog’s waste … if you have no need to,’ Barrie Mayor Rick Goldring says
Now, eight different neighbourhoods are involved, and a full roll-out is scheduled for 2019.
The idea of the boxes is to encourage dogs to help prevent dangerous diseases.
There are special tires to prevent the material they leave behind from getting punctured, and also sanitation bags to collect it.
Bathrooms and trash bins at parks have also been equipped with waste containers so the bags can be pushed into them.
Toronto City Councillor Peter Milczyn, who is behind the project, says he hopes that dogs will love and use the bins.
“They can enjoy this beautiful section of downtown without having to worry about their waste being left in other areas.”
‘Please pick up your dog’s waste … if you have no need to’
The system also works as a tool for those who want to provide a safe path for dogs, says city councillor Peter Milczyn.
“[It] basically creates a personal area where dogs can safely exercise. The dog owners will have a personal space … and they will know that as far as their dogs’ excrement is concerned they are going to be treated with respect and with care.”
A similar programme was carried out in Barrie’s Pana Park – although it only lasted for a month.
“I can tell you it was certainly appreciated,” Peter Milczyn said.
“People just did not pick up.”
The carts were torn apart, poo-strewn.
Barrie mayor Rick Goldring says he’s hoping to see a more permanent solution implemented after the pilot.
“There is a professional company that is working on a solution, so I think we will be able to roll this out a little more often and more often as we go through it.”
