Weeks after a winter storm blanketed New York City, the snow has melted into a mess — and residents say what’s left behind is far worse than slush.
According to the New York Post, sidewalks across the five boroughs have become dotted with unscooped dog waste that had been hidden under the snow, triggering a wave of complaints from frustrated New Yorkers who say the thaw revealed a public-health eyesore.
Social media has filled with photos and angry posts calling out pet owners who failed to clean up after their animals during the storm.
Among those weighing in was Nerdeen Kiswani, an anti-Israel activist who used the moment to post a controversial remark on X.
“Finally, NYC is coming to Islam. Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets. Like we’ve said all along, they are unclean,” she wrote, drawing backlash as she joined the broader online outrage.
City officials and local lawmakers also sounded off, focusing on the health risks posed by the waste.
“Pick up your f–king dog s–t,” Brooklyn Councilman Chi Ossé wrote in a blunt post on X.
Councilwoman Shahana Hanif echoed the concern, warning that dog waste is more than just unsightly.
“Unlike manure, dog waste is a public health hazard. It spreads bacteria, pollutes our streets and waterways, and creates unsafe conditions — especially for seniors and people with disabilities. Not picking it up isn’t just gross. It puts all of us at risk,” she said.
The uproar follows a spike in 311 complaints about dog waste after the storm, according to city data highlighted in a recent report.
Despite the surge in reports, the city’s Sanitation Department said it has not issued any violations tied to the problem.
“Absolutely it is the dog owner’s responsibility to pick up dog waste, regardless of the weather or conditions on the ground,” a DSNY spokesperson said.
“It is irresponsible and just gross to leave this behind anywhere, whether it’s a sidewalk, a patch of grass or a snow pile.”For many New Yorkers, the lingering mess has turned the simple act of walking down the block into an obstacle course — and renewed calls for stricter enforcement as the last of the snow disappears.
