Pets in New York: What the New SCOOP Law Requires from Owners

The problem of dog waste in New York is no longer an isolated nuisance. Now it is an urban sanitation issue that holds a central place on the City Council’s agenda.

This Thursday, the City Council approved the SCOOP Law. It is a package of four initiatives designed to make it easier for owners to pick up their pets’ waste. At the same time, the law aims to reduce the amount of feces abandoned on streets, sidewalks, and parks.

The approval comes after an especially difficult winter for the city. Consecutive snowstorms caused canine waste to be hidden under snow. It reappeared as soon as the thaw began.

Complaints That Keep Growing

During the first two months of the year, the 311 service received 821 complaints about dog waste. The figure represented a 35.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Since then, the accumulated volume has grown even further. According to data released by CBS News, the city tallied 2,926 complaints so far in 2026. Brooklyn led with 897 reports, followed by The Bronx with 759, Manhattan with 615, Queens with 568, and Staten Island with 86.

That total figure represents a 45.5% increase compared to the same period the previous year. A report from Manhattan’s borough president’s office called the 2025-2026 winter the worst recorded in six years of measurements. February 2026 was, in fact, the month with the most complaints in that entire historical series.

What Changes with the SCOOP Law?

One of the most visible changes will be the installation of waste bag dispensers. They will be placed next to public garbage bins throughout the city.

The initiative was championed by City Council President Julie Menin. The law requires the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to install and refill these dispensers in public containers. The legislation contemplates at least 1,200 supply points across New York.

The measure seeks to address one of the most common excuses among owners who don’t pick up waste: not having a bag on hand. The challenge will be keeping the dispensers stocked. The DSNY itself had warned that it does not have sufficient resources to replenish bags routinely and at large scale.

Public Education and Park Composting

The SCOOP Act also establishes a public education campaign. It will explain the health risks of waste and the legal obligations of pet owners.

Materials will be available in English and in languages designated by the city. The campaign must begin within 90 days of the law taking effect.

Another aspect of the new legislation looks beyond conventional garbage. The Department of Parks and Recreation must launch a composting pilot program. It will collect waste in dog parks for that purpose.

The plan contemplates the participation of volunteer groups with experience in the maintenance of these spaces. Specific containers may be installed in selected parks. Compostable bags will also be supplied.

Parks must publicly report how much waste was collected and composted. It will have to specify where the compost was used, how effective the program was, and what obstacles arose.

Enhanced Signage in Public Spaces

The city will also strengthen visible information for park visitors. There must be signs at entrances and exits