By Davi Stuhlsatz

 ROSE HILL –The city council has passed ordinance 583, requiring pet owners to remove their animals’ excrement from public rights-of-way, public property and others’ private property.

 “We’re just trying to make our walking trails and sidewalks nice for people to enjoy,” said Kathy Raney, Rose Hill city administrator. “The new ordinance is in place to encourage people to be responsible for their pets.”

Raney said having the ordinance in the city codes meant it could be enforced and would therefore encourage people to comply.

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to be the poop police and chase everyone down if they don’t comply,” she said. “We just want to encourage people to clean up after their pets.”

The penalty for breaking the law is $10 or community service.

Keeping runoff from a new city pond was another factor leading to the ordinance.

“We have a lot of fishermen and families at the pond, and we want to keep it clean,” she said.