Law 451, Article 1.3.12 (Excremento de Animales) has been in force for years. The issue is not the absence of regulation, but the lack of enforcement. Police officers rarely issue fines to dog owners who walk away as if they did not notice the waste their pets leave behind. Sanctions are clearly mentioned under the law, yet they are almost never applied. It raises the question of whether enforcement authorities are even aware of the regulation or simply choose not to prioritize it.
Walking through the neighborhood requires constant vigilance. I routinely scan the sidewalk to avoid stepping in dog waste. I clean the sidewalk in front of my building myself. The building’s cleaning staff typically sweep debris into the street, and street sweepers often ignore what accumulates along the curb. In practice, the burden falls on residents.
There is also a noticeable difference between neighborhoods. Conditions in Recoleta are not the same as in Belgrano vs. Nuñez. The disparity in cleanliness and enforcement is evident.
It is encouraging that the city government has begun addressing this long-standing issue. Public sanitation is not a trivial matter. If visitors come to what is promoted as “the most beautiful city in the world” and encounter sidewalks covered in dog waste, it reflects poorly on the city’s image and undermines its reputation.
Regulations also require that dogs be kept on a leash in public spaces. However, at the plaza I visit each morning, many owners remove leashes upon entering the designated “dog area,” allowing their pets to roam freely and relieve themselves without supervision. A clearly visible sign at the entrance states that dogs must remain leashed, yet compliance is minimal. The plaza guard rarely intervenes or reminds owners of the rule. Many people appear to assume that maintenance staff are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. It is remarkable that such a small public space still manages to sustain green grass under these conditions.
This week I noticed a large billboard in the neighborhood depicting a woman speaking on her phone while walking her dog, which has just left waste on the pavement. The message reads:
“La caca que no juntas hoy
es la que pisás mañana
el otro sos vos.
La ciudad más linda del mundo.”
“The poop you don’t pick up today
is the poop you’ll step in tomorrow.
The other one is you.
The most beautiful city in the world.”
Walking through the neighborhood requires constant vigilance. I routinely scan the sidewalk to avoid stepping in dog waste. I clean the sidewalk in front of my building myself. The building’s cleaning staff typically sweep debris into the street, and street sweepers often ignore what accumulates along the curb. In practice, the burden falls on residents.
There is also a noticeable difference between neighborhoods. Conditions in Recoleta are not the same as in Belgrano vs. Nuñez. The disparity in cleanliness and enforcement is evident.
It is encouraging that the city government has begun addressing this long-standing issue. Public sanitation is not a trivial matter. If visitors come to what is promoted as “the most beautiful city in the world” and encounter sidewalks covered in dog waste, it reflects poorly on the city’s image and undermines its reputation.
Regulations also require that dogs be kept on a leash in public spaces. However, at the plaza I visit each morning, many owners remove leashes upon entering the designated “dog area,” allowing their pets to roam freely and relieve themselves without supervision. A clearly visible sign at the entrance states that dogs must remain leashed, yet compliance is minimal. The plaza guard rarely intervenes or reminds owners of the rule. Many people appear to assume that maintenance staff are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. It is remarkable that such a small public space still manages to sustain green grass under these conditions.
This week I noticed a large billboard in the neighborhood depicting a woman speaking on her phone while walking her dog, which has just left waste on the pavement. The message reads:
“La caca que no juntas hoy
es la que pisás mañana
el otro sos vos.
La ciudad más linda del mundo.”
“The poop you don’t pick up today
is the poop you’ll step in tomorrow.
The other one is you.
The most beautiful city in the world.”
