During the 1990s, New Yorkers began doling out instituted heavy fines to those who failed to pick up his or her pooch’s poop. The results of the campaign, “Curb Your Dog,” included cleaner sidewalks and the addition of new jobs: In the early morning hours, it’s not unusual to see young New Yorkers walking ten leashed dogs, all the while making sure the pups only leave “business” where it’s allowed. Unfortunately, the city of Munich is still far from those favorable conditions. On the other hand, there are some advantages to the current situation: Local children recently practiced their calculation skills by counting 371 piles of poop left in the area around the soccer field and playground at Kindertreff Sendling. (It wasn’t quite as lovely when their mothers had to clean off the soles of their young ones’ shoes at the end of the exercise.) .
All sarcasm aside, some vocal, local mothers have rightfully taken it upon themselves to put the city’s politicians under pressure and remind them that the stinking masses that dot our parks, sidewalks and playgrounds are not god-given. With “pro dog, contra poop” in mind, they figure if such grassroots efforts worked in New York, why should change be impossible in Munich? Even the most dedicated dog friend is certain to want to make at difference at www.hundehaufen-muenchen.de, where supporters can help push the city to install more bag dispensers and to institute stricter legal measures against those who leave Fido’s filth at our feet.
