poopscooplaws.JPG

Students at Beach Elementary School in North Portland play on the field during the school day. The field will be the target of Multnomah County and Portland Parks and Recreation enforcers next month for off-leash and poop scoop laws.

(Nicole Dungca/The Oregonian)

Poop scoop scofflaws beware:

and

are watching you.

The two agencies are partnering up with

next month to enforce off-leash and scoop laws at three school fields, where pet owners often let their dogs run wild.

Throughout April, agencies will remind dog owners about the law before cracking down with fines next month. Getting caught with your dog off a leash or not picking up after your pet could cost you $150.

The campaign will focus on

,

and

. PPS listed the three schools as the top hot spots for dog-related complaints.

Bryan Tierney, the dog off-leash administrator at Portland Parks and Recreation, said the top complaints that park rangers hear are about off-leash dogs and pet owners failing to clean up poop.

Rebecca Torres, the Beach principal, said administrators worry about students being around the dogs during the school day.

"But the poop is the bigger issue," said Torres, "and people need to pick up after themselves."

Torres said students often track in the poop after being outside. During a fire drill last week, she said, three students found themselves in a mess as they walked onto the field.

Officer Christian Holden with Multnomah County Animal Services said the issue becomes worse as the weather gets better. Multnomah County will dedicate a patrol to the schools next month.

Torres said she hopes the campaign will help lead to a safer environment for everyone.

"We want our kids to be safe and healthy at all times," she said.

--