“Curb Your Dog” and Pooper Scooper Law (1978)
"Curb Your Dog" signs began appearing in the 1930s in an effort to get the "dog dirt" off the sidewalks. In 1978, a "pooper scooper law" was created. Activist Fran Lee's Children Before Dogs organization played a part in the 1978 legislation.
The laws are against the dog (or pet) owners, not the dogs. (Can you imagine arresting a dog? How do you tell a dog he has the right to remain silent?)
(Oxford English Dictionary)
poop scoop joc., an implement used for clearing up faeces; so pooper scooper;
1976 Maclean's Mag. 12 Jan. 34/1 A man on a motor-cycle with a pooper-scooper would be dispatched to clean up. 1977 J. WAMBAUGH Black Marble (1978) viii. 112 Bring your pooper-scoopers, boys. The dogs are covering the red carpet in a sea of shit. 1978 Daily Tel. 24 July 13/6 It may soon be common to see people holding a dog lead in one hand and a 'poop scoop' in the other. 1978 Daily Tel. 17 Aug. 3/3 The 'pooper-scooper' law in New York requires dog-owners to pick up anything their dogs drop.
7 January 1937, New York, pg. 10:
SHOW TRUCK HERALDS
SNOW-FIGHTING PLANS
Sanitation Department Float,
Made by One of Its Drivers,
Will Tour City's Street.
(...)
The float carries signs saying: "Please Help Keep Your City Clean," "Curb Your Dog" and "Do Not Park Your Car in the Immediate Vicinity of Snow Removal."
12 November 1937, New York Times, pg. 18:
"TRAFFIC" SIGN FOR DOGS
One of the new warnings
In an effort to train dog owners to observe the sanitation laws, the Department of Sanitation has posted some twenty-five signs bearing the legend "Please Curb Your Dog" at points about the city.
4 December 1938, Chicago Daily Tribune, "Mostly About Dogs" by Bob Becker, pg. F10:
"Curb Your Dog" Good Advice
(...)
In New York, truly a doggy city, an ordinance has been passed to make for a cleaner city and at the same time compel the indifferent dog owner to consider public welfare. The ordinance demands that dogs be curbed. There are signs everywhere with the request, "Curb your dog." It means that owners cannot allow their pets to soil buildings, nor can a dog make a nuisance of himself on the grass of the parkway or on the sidewalk. As a result there are practically no complaints about the dogs soiling sidewalks or grassy places which the public uses. Any one not curbing his dog when the occasion demands it is given a ticket and must go to court and pay a fine.
17 May 1964, Los Angeles Times, pg. V71 ad:
Dog Owners - Attention!!
"POOPER-SCOOPER". Are you happy with having to clean up after your dog? Do you want a way which is easy, clean & sanitary? Get a "POOPER-SCOOPER." No mess. Just scoop up & dispose. Made of heavy guage steel, welded with a hardwood handle, $2.95. A must for all dog owners. Add 25c postage &4% tax. B & H Industries, P.O. Box 51, Woodland Hills, California.
27 September 1970, New York Times, pg. SM47:
New York: a city going to the dogs?
20 August 1972, New York Times, pg. SM68:
To scoop or not to scoop
By Gini Kopecky
(...)
Existing cxity law literally prohibits pet owners from permitting dogs to defecate on any public property; however, in the past this law has been interpreted to mean that defecating dogs should be "curbed" - kept off the sidewalk - and even this interpretation has not been rigorously enforced. So in what might be considered a response to public pressure, Jerome Ketchmer had chosen this Tuesday morning, May 16, to announce a proposal to amend Section 755(2) - 7.0 of the city's Administrative Code to require dog owners to pick up their pets' droppings or face a $25 fine.
(...)
Fran's organization, Children Before Dogs, is easily the most persistent antidog-dirt lobby in existence.
23 July 1978, New York Times, pg. 1:
Owners of Dogs Face
Orders to Clean Up
2 August 1978, New York Times, pg. B20:
Dog Owners Cope With Cleanup Law
22 August 1978, Washington Post, pg. C8:
New Yorkers Leave Dogs
Rather Than "Scoop Poop"
(...)
"We are taking in three times as many dogs as we usually do and a lot o this is attributable to this new 'pooper scooper' law in the city," said Peggy Slattery, vice president of the Central Westchester Humane Society.
(Trademark)
Word Mark SOOPER DOOPER POOPER SCOOPER
Goods and Services IC 008. US 023. G & S: MANUALLY OPERATED TONG-LIKE IMPLEMENTS FOR USE IN THE PICKING UP AND REMOVAL OF LITTER. FIRST USE: 19541201. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19550111
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 72002872
Filing Date February 17, 1956
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 0633572
Registration Date August 28, 1956
Owner (REGISTRANT) FOTOMATIC CORPORATION DBA SCOOPER CO. CORPORATION INDIANA 2603 KESSLER BLVD., NORTH DRIVE INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA
(LAST LISTED OWNER) ROGERS, ELWOOD C., III INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNEE OF UNITED STATES 3055 GUION RD. INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA 46222
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15.
Renewal 2ND RENEWAL 19961023
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
The laws are against the dog (or pet) owners, not the dogs. (Can you imagine arresting a dog? How do you tell a dog he has the right to remain silent?)
(Oxford English Dictionary)
poop scoop joc., an implement used for clearing up faeces; so pooper scooper;
1976 Maclean's Mag. 12 Jan. 34/1 A man on a motor-cycle with a pooper-scooper would be dispatched to clean up. 1977 J. WAMBAUGH Black Marble (1978) viii. 112 Bring your pooper-scoopers, boys. The dogs are covering the red carpet in a sea of shit. 1978 Daily Tel. 24 July 13/6 It may soon be common to see people holding a dog lead in one hand and a 'poop scoop' in the other. 1978 Daily Tel. 17 Aug. 3/3 The 'pooper-scooper' law in New York requires dog-owners to pick up anything their dogs drop.
7 January 1937, New York
SHOW TRUCK HERALDS
SNOW-FIGHTING PLANS
Sanitation Department Float,
Made by One of Its Drivers,
Will Tour City's Street.
(...)
The float carries signs saying: "Please Help Keep Your City Clean," "Curb Your Dog" and "Do Not Park Your Car in the Immediate Vicinity of Snow Removal."
12 November 1937, New York Times, pg. 18:
"TRAFFIC" SIGN FOR DOGS
One of the new warnings
In an effort to train dog owners to observe the sanitation laws, the Department of Sanitation has posted some twenty-five signs bearing the legend "Please Curb Your Dog" at points about the city.
4 December 1938, Chicago Daily Tribune, "Mostly About Dogs" by Bob Becker, pg. F10:
"Curb Your Dog" Good Advice
(...)
In New York, truly a doggy city, an ordinance has been passed to make for a cleaner city and at the same time compel the indifferent dog owner to consider public welfare. The ordinance demands that dogs be curbed. There are signs everywhere with the request, "Curb your dog." It means that owners cannot allow their pets to soil buildings, nor can a dog make a nuisance of himself on the grass of the parkway or on the sidewalk. As a result there are practically no complaints about the dogs soiling sidewalks or grassy places which the public uses. Any one not curbing his dog when the occasion demands it is given a ticket and must go to court and pay a fine.
17 May 1964, Los Angeles Times, pg. V71 ad:
Dog Owners - Attention!!
"POOPER-SCOOPER". Are you happy with having to clean up after your dog? Do you want a way which is easy, clean & sanitary? Get a "POOPER-SCOOPER." No mess. Just scoop up & dispose. Made of heavy guage steel, welded with a hardwood handle, $2.95. A must for all dog owners. Add 25c postage &4% tax. B & H Industries, P.O. Box 51, Woodland Hills, California.
27 September 1970, New York Times, pg. SM47:
New York: a city going to the dogs?
20 August 1972, New York Times, pg. SM68:
To scoop or not to scoop
By Gini Kopecky
(...)
Existing cxity law literally prohibits pet owners from permitting dogs to defecate on any public property; however, in the past this law has been interpreted to mean that defecating dogs should be "curbed" - kept off the sidewalk - and even this interpretation has not been rigorously enforced. So in what might be considered a response to public pressure, Jerome Ketchmer had chosen this Tuesday morning, May 16, to announce a proposal to amend Section 755(2) - 7.0 of the city's Administrative Code to require dog owners to pick up their pets' droppings or face a $25 fine.
(...)
Fran's organization, Children Before Dogs, is easily the most persistent antidog-dirt lobby in existence.
23 July 1978, New York Times, pg. 1:
Owners of Dogs Face
Orders to Clean Up
2 August 1978, New York Times, pg. B20:
Dog Owners Cope With Cleanup Law
22 August 1978, Washington Post, pg. C8:
New Yorkers Leave Dogs
Rather Than "Scoop Poop"
(...)
"We are taking in three times as many dogs as we usually do and a lot o this is attributable to this new 'pooper scooper' law in the city," said Peggy Slattery, vice president of the Central Westchester Humane Society.
(Trademark)
Word Mark SOOPER DOOPER POOPER SCOOPER
Goods and Services IC 008. US 023. G & S: MANUALLY OPERATED TONG-LIKE IMPLEMENTS FOR USE IN THE PICKING UP AND REMOVAL OF LITTER. FIRST USE: 19541201. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19550111
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 72002872
Filing Date February 17, 1956
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 0633572
Registration Date August 28, 1956
Owner (REGISTRANT) FOTOMATIC CORPORATION DBA SCOOPER CO. CORPORATION INDIANA 2603 KESSLER BLVD., NORTH DRIVE INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA
(LAST LISTED OWNER) ROGERS, ELWOOD C., III INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNEE OF UNITED STATES 3055 GUION RD. INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA 46222
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15.
Renewal 2ND RENEWAL 19961023
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE