Resident hopes that Liberty Canyon dog messes will go away after city installs ‘Mutt Mitt’ dispensers

By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

"Mutt Mitt" dispensers and waste baskets will be installed on both sides of Liberty Canyon in the Country Glen area of Agoura Hills. Mutt Mitts are a euphemism for "doggy-dropping gloves" that city employees and residents hope will be used by canine owners to clean up (after their dogs deposit dung along streets).

The city of Agoura Hills recently installed the Mutt Mitt dispensers after resident Sherry Ferber complained of the mess in her neighborhood.

Ferber explained that she contacted city employees about a year ago with an idea to stage a community event to raise the consciousness of dog owners. "I wanted to call it the Liberty Canyon Clean-up Caper," she said.

After considerable nudging by Ferber, city employees came out to her neighborhood and agreed that something had to be done.

Ramiro Adeva, assistant engineer for the city of Agoura Hills, explained that in response to Ferber’s complaint, he and engineering aide Kelly Fisher inspected the area to determine the extent of the problem.

"It was horrible, worse then we thought it would be," Fisher said. He added that city law requires people to pick up after their pets go No. 2.

"Hopefully, people will take the initiative to pick up after their pets," Adeva said.

He added that the $60 dispensers are vandal-resistant and will stand up to all types of weather. The gloves come in two colors, with green being Adeva’s choice for the area. "Green fits in with the rustic nature of Agoura Hills," he said.

Adeva said that the Mutt Mitt dispensers are generally found in city parks, but they’re also installed in areas where many homeowners have dogs.

Similar devices can be found in public parks in other communities and in those with dog parks.

Ferber is anxious for the Mutt Mitt dispensers to be installed.

Adeva said he would send city landscaping personnel to clean up Liberty Canyon before the dispensers were installed.