I just read a blog about a person who clearly stated they refused to pick up the poop left by their dog because they felt a little poop on the side of the lawn doesn’t hurt anyone and because others do pick up their dog’s poop it’s OK for one person to just leave it there.
That’s just wrong from so many different angles.
The backlash from the readers was amazing- and their comments were not all politically correct. Lots of swearing going on, and of the most offensive kind. I don’t blame those frustrated by others who are inconsiderate of other people’s health and safety. I’ve found myself swearing under my breath when I step in a pile of dog poop. Usually the swear word that is another word for poop. So I understand. Perhaps folks could have said the same thing using kinder language, but people are mad at people who won’t pick up their dog’s poop.
I’m unclear whether the blogger was too lazy, too creeped out by picking up poop, or a combination of the two, but everyone who has a dog should be a good neighbor and pick up any poop their dog leaves behind. Particularly in a public place. If they choose not to pick up dog poop on their own property and no one else is expected to go into that poop mine field, then that’s their problem. Just don’t make your problem my problem.
The folks at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District got the same kind of response from angry citizens when they launched their Pick Up Poop campaign. So clearly not isolated to one area of the world. It’s a problem when there is even one person who decides they really don’t need to pick up after their dog.
My question is- how do we motivate people like the blogger to pick up poop? Make laws to fine people who won’t? Who would enforce that? You really think police officers will take the time to deal with that? My guess is that it would be low on their list of priorities right under jaywalking and littering.
Maybe we need neighborhood watch programs, like the Poop Patrol, or the Poop Police. Maybe we need to post perpetrators’ pictures or videos with their dogs in action (eyes masked on the dog- they’re innocent) and label them the “Poopy Person of the Week” or some catchier title.
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