LAKEVIEW — A friendly little reminder from your alderman, Lakeview — pick up after your dog.
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) included a note to dog owners in his weekly newsletter to constituents Friday, apparently due to "numerous calls" to the office about irresponsible dog owners, according to the note.
Lakeview is home to one of the biggest dog populations in the U.S., but the "less than desirable feature" of local pups is neighbors not picking up poop, the letter said.
"I just wanted to remind our residents that not only it is against the law not pick up your pets waste [sic]," the letter said, "but it also is a major source of bacterial contamination in urban watersheds, a hazard to human health and attracts rodents.
"Please be a responsible pet owner and a considerate neighbor by picking up after your pet."
Dog waste has long been a hot topic in the neighborhood. When a new dog gym went to a neighborhood group for approval earlier this year, a small but vocal group of neighbors decried a potential increase in animal waste in the area.
Too many people already leave their dog's excrement in the neighborhood, they said.
But the group ultimately approved the gym, Zoom Room, for 3055 N. Ashland Ave. One business, the majority agreed, could not be responsible for all the dog owners in Lakeview.
