City to crack down on dog owners who don’t clean up after their pets

Monessen Councilwoman Karen Cosner said they’re fed up with pet owners not cleaning up after their animals at city-owned parks.

At Thursday’s Monessen City Council meeting, Councilwoman Karen Cosner had a clear message for dog owners misusing the city’s parks: Clean up after your pets — or face fines and locked gates.

Cosner, who serves as Director of Parks and Public Property, addressed what she called an ongoing and increasingly unsanitary issue at City Park and other public spaces — dogs defecating in areas meant for children and families, and owners not picking up after them.

“There were piles all over the park,” Cosner said. “Especially in the dek hockey court — a place that was built for kids. It’s gross. And I’m not blaming the dogs. I’m blaming the humans who allow it.”

Cosner detailed a complaint she received last week, prompting her to visit the park herself. What she found, she said, was unacceptable.

Violations of existing laws

Monessen already has a leash law on the books, which requires dogs to be leashed at all times in public — with leashes no longer than six feet.

Dogs are also prohibited from being on private property without consent and must be under control at all times, per Pennsylvania state law.

Violations fall under the city’s Quality of Life Ordinance and if violated can result in fines, $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second violation and $100 for the third. Continued violations can be fined up to $150 per offense.

Additionally, noncompliance with rules for dangerous or vicious dogs could be fined $500 minimum.

Despite enforcement efforts, it hasn’t kept pace with the violations.

Cosner says that needs to change.

“We have people coming from out of town, cutting locks on the baseball field, letting their dogs go to the bathroom in the outfield,” Cosner said. “Kids are sliding in that. That’s disgusting.”

Final warning

In response, Cosner has taken action.

She ordered the installation of a dog waste station — complete with bags and a trash can — near the baseball field.

She also said public works will do one final cleanup of the area.

“After that, it’s on the residents,” she said. “If I go back up there and see one pile, I’m locking it again.”

Cosner also made it clear that city workers shouldn’t have to endure the current conditions.

“One of our guys said they were weed whacking and ended up with excrement in their beards,” she said. “That’s not part of their job. It’s summer. It’s 90 degrees out. It’s disgusting.”

Cosner used the platform to remind residents of the city’s leash law.

“I don’t care if your dog is small or ‘well-behaved,’” she said. “Other people don’t know that. They see a dog off-leash and they leave because they’re afraid. We can’t have that.”

She asked the Monessen Police Department to start enforcing the leash rule more seriously and patrol city parks with animal violations in mind.

Police Chief Dave Yuhasz confirmed that officers will be more aware moving forward.

Resident Ernie Telegraphis offered a no-nonsense fix.

“Put signs up everywhere,” he said. “One that says ‘You will be fined $100 for littering.’ No one needs to spy on people — just make it clear.”

Cosner agreed signage could help but emphasized that community respect has to be the foundation.

“Our town needs a vision that we’re going to clean it up,” she said. “I’m empowering people to do better.”