Chicago had a record year of dog poop complaints

Dogs are humanity’s best friend because they’re so loyal and lovable. But as biological creatures, they have needs that require their owners’ attention. From daily walks and shots, to healthy food and grooming, the responsibilities of pet ownership are vast and often not fun—maybe explaining why dog poop complaints to Chicago’s Streets and Sanitation are on the rise.

While 2016 was the worst year on record for complaints, 2017 is on track to beat that. And we’re on the crest of the year in “number two” negligence as March consistently ranks as the busiest month, according to the chart below produced by the analysts monitoring canine anal activity at Renthop.

Mondays are the busiest days for complaints, followed closely by Tuesday and Wednesday—perhaps because getting back to work is stressful enough without adding scooping duties to it. And also because people may be less likely to put up with shit at the start of the workweek.

via Renthop

And some communities have a higher likelihood of finding unfortunate matters underneath your soles. West Englewood gets the most complaints, clocking in at 26.5 per year for every 10,000 households on average: they saw 26 total complaints last year. With 13 total complaints in 2016, West Pullman gets second place with an average of 22.2 per year per 10,000 households.

Meanwhile, at just five reports in 2016, the Near North Side gets the least complaints with an average of .63 per year for every 10,000 homes. Next is The Loop, which could earn a cleanliness award at 1.05 per year for every 10,000 households—that translated to just one complaint in all of last year.

Neighborhoods with a higher proportion of owner-occupied housing (a.k.a. less rentals) complain more. This could mean that owners have a lower tolerance for finding brown presents because they’re more invested in their area, leading to more outspoken action on poop patrol.

While it may eventually cost dog owners $500 in fines for negligence, for now you’ll need know where to avoid unpleasantness. To take a closer look at the data, here’s a map to show you where to watch your step in the city.

• Complaints for Neglected Dog Waste on the Rise [Renthop]
• Poop Complaints [City of Chicago]
• Chicago considers $500 ticket for homeowners who don't clean up dog poop [Tribune]
• More Chicago maps [Curbed Chicago]