The Brief
- Snow from late January storms is finally melting across DC, Philadelphia and New York City.
- Residents say weeks-old dog waste buried under snow is now covering sidewalks.
- Experts warn pet waste is more than a nuisance — it’s a potential health and environmental hazard.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As snow from late January storms finally melts across the Northeast, people living in Washington, Philadelphia and New York are confronting what had been buried underneath for weeks: dog poop left behind on sidewalks and streets.
Across neighborhood forums and Reddit threads, residents are posting photos and complaints about sidewalks littered with pet waste that had been buried beneath snow for weeks.
But this isn’t just about aesthetics.
Why it’s more than just a mess
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pet waste is considered an environmental pollutant. When left on the ground, rain or melting snow can wash bacteria and parasites into storm drains and waterways.…