Pet feces bags found in Hopedale storm drains

HOPEDALE, Mass. (WHDH) -- Hopedale’s health department is taking action after bags filled with pet droppings have been found in the city’s storm drains.

Board of Health Agent Leonard Izzo has recently found 200 pet feces-filled plastic bags polluting storm drains -- creating a health hazard.

“The storm drains reach into the back here, you can see the woods, that goes down into a river and that’s the wetlands,” said Leonard Izzo, Hopedale Board of Health agent. “Once it gets into the water stream, you don’t know what’s going to happen down the stream. You got kids playing in the water. They’re going to pick up the dirty water.”

It started in January when a neighbor reported someone stuffing bags of pet droppings into storm drain grates. Town crews were called in to remove them.

“They would have to stop to shove it. They can’t just drop it and go. It would have to be smooshed so someone’s actually taking the effort to squish it in,” said a neighbor.

And even after the town's recent reverse calls throughout the community, the problem continued.

It's perplexing for dog-loving neighbors.

“This is a lovely neighborhood, and most of the people are very respectful with each other and with their dogs,” another neighbor said.

For Leonard Izzo, he says it’s dangerous and expensive; patrolling for improperly placed bags -- and removing them -- is a waste of tax dollars.

They’re still doing it. I don’t understand why. They just have to stop it; change their habits. All they have to do is take the bag home, put it in their trash, and it’s gone,” Izzo said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Hopedale Board of Health.