Something stinks.

And if you’re walking along 43rd Avenue in Sunnyside, there is a good chance that what you smell was left behind by a dog.

Numerous residents have complained recently to the Dept. of Sanitation and to Community Board 2 about the number of spots around Sunnyside where dog owners have left behind their dogs’ waste.State law says that “each person who owns or controls a dog must remove any feces left by that dog on any sidewalk, gutter, street or other public place and dispose of it in a legal manner.”

“It’s totally and utterly disgusting,” said Janice Farcina, herself an owner of a Boston terrier. “I always pick up after my dog, because not only is it against the law, but it is also the courteous thing to do as a human being.”

In Sunnyside, residents say that law is being ignored. In addition to complaining to the City and community board, residents have taken to putting signs on trees in the area where there is a heavy concentration of dog poop.

But affixing signs on trees is also illegal, according to State law, and violating that law comes with a fine.

Sunnysiders argue that while the fines for not picking up after a dog are a deterrent to most owners, there are some owners who just are too lazy or too uncivilized.

“It really is just a part of being a decent person,” said Thom Martin, who lives on 42nd Street and often jogs down 43rd Avenue. “When I’m running, the last thing I want or should have to do is to step over dog poop.”

On one specific “tree island” on the corner of 43rd Avenue and 40th Street, there were seven different piles of dog poop. And these were not from toy poodles or Chihuahuas. These piles came from big dogs, making it even less attractive to the residents.

“You see these people walking around with these giant dogs, and they are obviously the ones who leave the big huge piles of poop,” said Marci Rodgers. “The worst part is, it doesn’t disappear until a heavy rain comes and washes it away.”

According to the sanitation department, owners must pick up after their dogs or be subject to a $250 fine. That fine was increased from $100 in November 2008, and during the fiscal year 2009, the department saw a dramatic decrease in the number of violation — down to 580 from 903 in fiscal year 2008.

Sanitation figures show only five summonses handed out in the area during the fiscal year 2011. The sanitation department said that the fines are difficult to hand out because enforcement agents must actually see the dog owner walk away from their pets’ waste.

There is a dedicated canine unit comprised of about 20 people who write summonses. Sanitation enforcement agents and supervisors, along with members of the parks department, can also write summonses for violation of the law.

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), who lives in and represents Sunnyside, recently announced the placement of 24 new garbage cans in Sunnyside and Woodside south of Queens Boulevard, but there are no cans along 43rd Avenue between 39th Street and 44th Street. That is six blocks without a place to dispose of a dog’s waste.

“We need places to throw the waste,” said Rachel Pancer. “Nobody wants to walk an extra couple blocks out of their way. There should be enough trash cans so that this problem won’t continue.”

Van Bramer said he would certainly contact the sanitation department if there is a need for more trash cans in Sunnyside.

“I think the vast majority of people are responsible and clean up after their dogs,” Van Bramer said. “[Those who don’t] are really disrespectful to their neighbors. It’s disgusting and we really should have more enforcement of catching these people who don’t pick up after their dog.”

Van Bramer said his office has reported incidents to the Dept. of Sanitation when constituents have complained to his office about the problem.

“We will continue to be aggressive [in fighting the problem].”

As seen in the Feb. 16 edition of the Queens Tribune