WOOF Patrol

Pick Up & Leash Up

Keep Our City

Bow-Wow Clean and Safe

WOOF Patrol began their official tour of duty on February 22^nd, 2006 at City Hall. Dog owners were being confronted by what city officials labeled a, “health” problem. And, they pointed to poop as the culprit. However, there was another side to the story and our pooches got barking mad. They explained to us that, “Two legs, not four, were the perpetrators.”

It was true that irresponsible dog owners were out there. It was also true that responsible owners took it upon themselves to pick up for those that didn’t. But there was also the problem of trash, broken glass, discarded prophylactics, razor blades, cigarette and cigar butts and much more, that needed cleaning up on the beach walk.

“I focused on the fact that we were Responsible Dog Owners,” said the outspoken Yvonne Conza who was highly determined to keep the beach walk free for canine-strolling. “I was angry at the situation because we really had been patrolling the beach walk. Frankly it seemed unfair to pick on dogs when people were the real problem.”

Anger turned to resolve and it became clear what doggie owners had to do. We formally organized what we had already been doing and became known as, “WOOF Patrol”. Our mission is: "Pick up and leash up. Keep our city bow-wow clean and safe."

WOOF Patrol volunteers marched together to city hall in what the Miami Herald called a, “A Dog Fight.”

Wearing WOOF Patrol t-shirts and prepared with doggie tales, we were confronted by a survey conducted by Public Works that stated: dog feces were the major source of garbage on the walkway.

After analyzing the survey, it was easy for WOOF Patrol members to conclude that it was miscalculated and inaccurate. Public Works admitted that their survey had grouped all trash together and called it dog feces. We presented photographs of the trash found on the beach walk along with doggie testimonials. Then we offered to be a part of the solution in creating a cleaner and safer beach walk.

WOOF Patrol performs polite poop pickup. We are a PAWSITIVE group of volunteers that take pride in our community. The pilot program that allows pets on the beach walk has been extended for another 6 months. We want the pet-friendly beach walk to become a permanent feature of Miami Beach. And we are teaming with city officials because what we both recognize is that by working together we can achieve more.