SARANAC LAKE — Take a walk along Riverside Park and you’ll see fresh dog poop off the sidewalk’s edge. The heat from it melts the snow beneath and nestles it down in the fresh snow.

Spaced around the park are little plastic baggy dispensers on signposts that urge dog owners to pick up after their dogs — but those scatological landmines tell a tale of public health unheeded.

Rain and snowfall will wash that poop into the Saranac River, where it will distribute potentially in excess of 24 million fecal coliform bacteria. The refuse will use up oxygen as it decays. Low oxygen levels and ammonia kill fish. Decaying doo-doo encourages weed and algae growth, clouding the water.

Pet waste can transfer infections into the water, and to people who contact it. Dog waste can carry a number of infections, such as bacterial infections, roundworm infections and parasites including toxoplasmosis and giardiasis. The Environmental Protection Agency designated dog poop a major source of pollution in 1991. The statistics and facts go on, but it may not matter — it really can’t compete with human laziness. Surveys show that only about 60 percent of dog owners pick up after their pets.

Cris Winters came to Saranac Lake in 2012 and said it “has been a problem since I moved here.” Winters is putting together what she’s calling a “Poop Posse” — an informal coalition of business owners and residents who take action on the issue.

“I really want to stress with all of them that this is non-confrontational, more of an educational effort,” she said. Her plan is for these volunteers to walk with the streets and casually ask dog walkers if they have bags — and if they don’t, inform them of the health and ecological consequences for the village.

The “Poop Posse” will attend the Dec. 10 Saranac Lake Village Board of Trustees meeting, according to Winters.

“I’m going to deputize all of my friends,” Winters said,” … and any strangers I can collect.”

Kathy Steinbrueck at Scott’s Florist said she’s been dealing with negligent pet owners for years. She’s put up signs all around her parking lot and business, but it doesn’t seem to help.

“The number of people that pick up,” Steinbrueck said, “there’s just as many that don’t pick up behind their dogs.”

Dog populations are hard to accurately measure because some owners do not have licenses. But, for those numbers, there are 345 licensed dogs in North Elba, 147 in Harrietstown and 73 in St. Armand, according to each town clerk’s office.

Each town has an ordnance that allows for residents who witness a dog owner leaving their refuse in public and private spaces to report them to the authorities. However, this would require actually seeing the person in the act, and either taking a picture of them or finding out their name.

“Most often you’re not seeing it; you’re finding it,” Steinbrueck said.

“There’s a local ordnance … dogs defecate, and people are supposed to clean up after their dog,” said Saranac Lake village police Chief Chuck Potthast. “If indeed an officer sees somebody that has not cleaned up, we will approach the person and ask them to clean up. If they wouldn’t do that in, in fact, then we would cite them.”

The village of Tupper Lake has had success in curbing its dog poop problem by active enforcement.

“For several years we’ve had a scoop and pick up ordinance,” Tupper Lake Mayor Paul Maroun said. He added that it hadn’t been enforced, so when he became mayor, “I ordered the police to start issuing tickets.” Maroun said bag dispensers and signs were soon set up around the village to remind people of responsible practices.

“It’s not about being mean to people, it’s about the safety and well-being of the community,” Maroun said.