Coral Gables declares war on chickens, roosters and puppy poop bags

The Coral Gables commission spent some time at last week's meeting hablando mierda — literally.

Commissioners voted unanimously last month to change the city's code so that enforcement officers could fine residents who drop their doggie's doodoo bags in their neighbors' trash pits. First they get a warning. Then it's a $100 fine. Then it's a $500 fine on the third and consequent incidents.

Apparently, the proliferation of poop bags has become a problem in North Gables.

"Improperly disposed animal fecal matter, particularly the illegal dumping of waste bags in trash pits located in the swale in front of homes, has led to unsightly conditions and potential health hazards for property owners and the community at large," reads the memo with the ordinance.

"It just gives the code enforcement department a few additional tools to try to curb the current problem with doggie bags and dog waste issues throughout the city," said Assistant City Attorney Gus Ceballos, adding that he believes "a lot of people think its a permitted activity."

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Vince Lago said he would like to find the hot spots where the major issues are. Ladra has some suggestions of where he could find poop but it might not be the same thing. Lago also said that they could address it the same way they have addressed illegal dumping with cameras.

"But we don't think we want to that," Lago said, suggesting outreach to residents. People don't even know, he said, that they can opt to eliminate their trash pit altogether.

It's going to be difficult to enforce this new rule unless someone is caught in the act. But residents can also get rid of their trash pits to avoid this from happening. That's something a lot of people don't know, Ceballos said.

As usual, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson wanted to know what kind of outreach the city would do to educate residents on the issue. She suggested that signs were put up along troublesome streets.

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Later in the meeting, Commissioner Melissa Castro said she had gotten several complaints about chickens and roosters in North Gables. That's because the city of Miami allows four hens for every home, she said. "And that's half a block away from some parts of Coral Gables."

Nobody suggested killing them, just possibly calling Pesky Critters to deport them over the border.

Why did the chicken cross Douglas Road? To drop her pup's poop bag in her neighbor's trash pit.

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