Dog waste left on the street and people’s property is not only obnoxious and gross, it can also be dangerous by making its way into our water supply if not disposed of correctly.

Nesquehoning’s mayor and council members are frustrated that they have to field complaints every year around this time of year concerning what should be a matter of courtesy and common sense.

Mayor Sam Kitchko says it about as succinctly as possible: “Pick up after your dog.”

Of course, the issue is not limited to this Carbon County borough of about 3,250; it is an issue in just about every community in the five-county Times News area.

Most communities have ordinances which require owners to pick up after their dogs or risk paying a fine, but some thoughtless owners are crafty and unconcerned about the mess that they leave for others to deal with.

Some do it in the dead of night to avoid detection.

Some ordinances even require owners to remove dog waste on their own properties at least once a week.

Some communities post signs to remind the thoughtless clods to carry a bag and scoop after a dog poops.

Some property owners don’t even like dog-walkers who allow their animals to pee on their grass. “Why don’t they go in their own yards?” said a Nesquehoning friend of mine, who treats his lawn like the Augusta National Golf Club course in Georgia.

My personal frustration: As a non-animal-owner, I have to clean up a dog’s feces from my lawn.

If I know the owner whose dog did the dirty work, I scoop up the poop in a plastic bag and deposit it on the owner’s doorstep.

If owners are blatantly ignoring courtesies, signs and other subtle and not-so-subtle reminders, what are other solutions for handling the problem?

Is there any percentage of the carefree dog-owner population that’s truly ignorant of the law (and apparently unfazed by dog waste on their own streets), or is everyone who leaves his or her pooch’s crap lying around just being, well, crappy about it?

I consulted some experts who have studied and given considerable thought to this dilemma. Here is why they think dog owners act so thoughtlessly:

• They forgot to carry a scooper bag.

• It’s too much trouble to lug around a bag full of poop.

• They think picking up dog poop is icky and gross.

• They say they didn’t know there was a law compelling a pet-owner to pick up after his or her animal. (Not every municipality has an ordinance, although they should.)

• They contend that dog poop is a natural substance, but it is not, and it can harm the environment and threaten public health. It also has an intense odor and draws flies that can carry diseases to humans.

• Being self-absorbed, they feel they don’t have to abide by the social conventions that we mere mortals must follow. Nesquehoning’s ordinance is similar to those in most communities. It demands that owners pick up after their dog if it is not on its property. Failure to do so can result in a modest fine. Repeated offenders risk being cited for larger fines and, in rare cases, can mean jail time.

Some communities have undertaken some really creative ways to deal with the problem.

For example, Twin Ponds apartments in Nashua, New Hampshire, requires tenants with dogs to use a “PooPrints” pet DNA sampling kit when they move in.

If feces is found on the grounds, property managers simply send the sample to BioPetVet Labs, learn the dog’s identity and fine the resident.

One thought I have: Publicize the names of local residents who are fined for violating the pet cleanup ordinances in their communities.

This might embarrass the people and end the problem.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com