I hadn't heard that one before. I was thinking antifreeze.
Get caught putting out a pan containing antifreeze and the PETA/ASPCA crowd will see you hung from the nearest light pole.
Sponge pieces is just littering. Although with a big pack it may take a while.
Of course, a responsible owner would make sure their animals never were a problem in the first place.
The thing I never saw in the story was about the dog's license. Did every dog has its collar and license? In our town if you own a dog it better have the rabies and county tags on it's collar of your fine starts adding up quick.