It is illegal to relieve yourself behind a tree at a park or on a dark desert night because it is considered littering and a public nuisance. Most of you probably don’t see the big deal, but are we being fair? Dogs get to do it. Are we giving affirmative action to our pets, and letting human rights go down the drain? Maybe it’s not that extreme, but it is rational to assume that dogs and other animals have more freedom with this daily activity.

An argument for criminalizing public urination is that “the sight and smell of urine are vile and offensive, and those who use the public streets and sidewalks cannot be freely subjected to such unpleasantness.” (Source) My response is why, then, do dogs get away with it? At least the owner should get the same punishment as the person who pees in well-concealing shrubbery. And sight and smell? We’d have to throw a multitude of dirty, stinky, hygiene-haters in jail.

Let’s examine the accusations of the act.

Littering: Is dog urine more sanitary or holy? If it is considered littering, then spitting should then be against the law, as well as sneezing if you don’t catch all the refuse in a tissue or in your hand.

Public nuisance: a nuisance that unreasonably interferes with a right that is common to the general public; “a public nuisance offends the public at large.”

It doesn’t cause harm or injury to anyone, unless they are being urinated on, or they rub there face in the dirt, or they jog barefoot in hidden places. The only time I actually see this becoming an issue is if a wet trail is left in front of a business facility.

In any case, I’d rather have someone go behind a tree than have soiled pants. Just find a good spot where nobody will see nudity. Don’t do any damage or anything dangerous (like pissing on electrical equipment). In no way am I advocating that you not use a restroom. Finding a toilet is the first objective. I am just pointing out some evident inconsistencies.