The Coral Gables commission spent some time at last week’s meeting hablando mierda — literally.
Commissioners voted unanimously last month to change the city’s code so that enforcement officers could fine residents who drop their doggie’s doodoo bags in their neighbors’ trash pits. First they get a warning. Then it’s a $100 fine. Then it’s a $500 fine on the third and consequent incidents.
Apparently, the proliferation of poop bags has become a problem in North Gables.
“Improperly disposed animal fecal matter, particularly the illegal dumping of waste bags in trash pits located in the swale in front of homes, has led to unsightly conditions and potential health hazards for property owners and the community at large,” reads the memo with the ordinance.
“It just gives the code enforcement department a few additional tools to try to curb the current problem with doggie bags and dog waste issues throughout the city,” said Assistant City Attorney Gus Ceballos, adding that he believes “a lot of people think its a permitted activity.”
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Mayor Vince Lago said he would like to find the hot spots where the major issues are. Ladra has some suggestions of where he could find poop but it might not be the same thing. Lago also said that they could address it the same way they have addressed illegal dumping with cameras.
“But we don’t think we want to that,” Lago said, suggesting outreach to residents. People don’t even know, he said, that they can opt to eliminate their trash pit altogether.
It’s going to be difficult to enforce this new rule unless someone is caught in the act. But residents can also get rid of their trash pits to avoid this from happening. That’s something a lot of people don’t know, Ceballos said.

As usual, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson wanted to know what kind of outreach the city would do to educate residents on the issue. She suggested that signs were put up along troublesome streets.
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Later in the meeting, Commissioner Melissa Castro said she had gotten several complaints about chickens and roosters in North Gables. That’s because the city of Miami allows four hens for every home, she said. “And that’s half a block away from some parts of Coral Gables.”
Nobody suggested killing them, just possibly calling Pesky Critters to deport them over the border.
Why did the chicken cross Douglas Road? To drop her pup’s poop bag in her neighbor’s trash pit.
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The City of Coral Gables is planning to resume KILLING CHICKENS AND ROOSTERS!
https://youtu.be/1YAHOe2jcwU?si=kzXMZs3YZ7MN_4-V
” When did we get so possessive of our garbage that we are outraged when someone mixes their garbage with ours?”
Los hispanos que no entienden lo que es la propiedad privada como un latón de basura no los queremos no los necesitamos.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. Garbage is garbage, including doggie poop bags. When did we get so possessive of our garbage that we are outraged when someone mixes their garbage with ours? People need to get a life.
Everybody. Get a life.
needs to be aggressively advertised. A lady through her poo bag in my swale right in front of me. I told her she wasn’t allowed to do that and she said it was allowed.
Why did the chicken cross Douglas Road? To drop her pup’s poop bag in her neighbor’s trash pit.f
ok, that’s funny. had me ROFLOL. the whole thing is funny. this is a topic for the Commission? slow news day?
There are doggie poop disposal containers with free doggie bags throughout Salzedo and some intersections, so there’s no excuse for residents to be so callous as to allow their pets to defecate and they not pick it up. I was dog sitting my daughter’s pomeranian right before the pandemic, and as we’re walking past one of those stations, a guy with a huge dog allowed his doggo to deposit a big one and then walked away. I asked him to please pick it up, and he very aggressively told me to mind my own business.
Some people are just plain ignorant and careless. I told him that he probably lived in a pig stie and walked away. There needs to be education and enforcement.
Good luck with enforcement on the doggie bag ban. Cameras will just enforce our growing “Snitch Society” mentality. And if the city really wants to get rid of trash pits, then make an opening offer of at least 75% off my trash fee to get me to the table to discuss.
We should allow more roosters and hens. Then we can get eggs for much less than the $4,89 Publix charges for the same dozen that was $0.95 four years ago. Besides, we’re all tied to this Earth. Let’s start living like it.
Anderson is the only sane person on the commission. Menendez is just posturing to avoid an election challenge; Castro and Rodriguez are totally beholden to their constituency; and Lago’s off the reservation. Ms. Anderson is the only steady hand on the commission and I wish her well with her re-election. I’ll be voting for her.