Without a drawing or image of a dog defecating, it is very unlikely that a non-native speaker (or even a native speaker) would recognize this multi-syllabic word for "poop" or "sh_t."
Do you know what LAMC sec. 53.49 is? Why is that part written in the same font and size as the message? It carries no meaning unless you happen to have the Los Angeles Municipal Code handy. It refers to a city law that makes dog-owners responsible for cleaning up their dog's poop in a public area. If a dog-owner doesn't pick up the poop, (s)he could be fined $20. Since there were plenty of dog messes lying around, this sign clearly wasn't doing its job.
I wonder why. There is zero power in the passive voice ("must be removed...by owners"). Also, though I understand the words used in the sign, I was confused. Who are "owners under penalty of law"? Doesn't this law apply to everyone who walks a dog on public property? Maybe we need advertising agents to create our street signage.
***By the way, there are other meanings of poop that have nothing to do with "dog defecation."
