Cleaning Up Your Pooch’s Poop
It’s a Crappy Job, But Someone Has to Do it!
Picking up your pooch’s poop may not be pleasant, but it is a necessity. Whether you’re in your yard or out and about, you would not want anyone stepping in your pooch’s waste. In this article, we’ll talk you through how to correctly pick up your pooch’s poop.
The Benefits
If you live in an area with plenty of yard space or even woods, it’s tempting to leave your pooch’s poop where it lies and let it “naturally fertilize” the land. It’s even more tempting when your pooch usually poops in the corner of your yard. You can choose a corner that is rarely visited, so there is no danger of stepping in it, and the yard belongs to you, so there are no neighbors to upset. Simple! Not quite.
Ignoring your pooch’s poop can have many hazardous effects. For one, it may leave an unpleasant odor. Secondly, it will attract flies and other insects. And third, it may even help the spread of diseases.
Leaving poop lying around could mean that your curious pooch may later return and eat their older, dried poop. This is not healthy, but it happens.
All in all, cleaning up after your pooch is important. If you have a large yard, you could do pooch poop pick-ups twice or three times a week – but make sure you get ‘er done.
How to Pick Up Your Pooch’s Poop
What you will need:
Pooch poop bags (required). These bags are made of plastic and can be bought from any store. Some are even compostable.
Steps for Picking Up Your Pooch’s Poop
1. When you are out walking your pooch or when you take him to the backyard, always make sure you have pooch poop bags with you. It is easier to find a pooper-picker-upper when you are in your yard, but if you’re out and about and find yourself bagless, you can always grab a newspaper from a local café or store. Still, pooch poop bags are the best for picking up your pooch’s poop.
2. Turn the plastic poop bag inside out and pull it over your hand, like a glove. This will make sure you get a good grip on your pooch’s poop without touching it.
3. Once you have the plastic bag/glove on, reach down and pick up your pooch’s poop. Holding the poop bag, turn it inside-out (with your other hand).
4. Tie the top of the bag and you are done!
Is Your Pooch’s Poop Dangerous?
The answer is ‘no’, as long as you are sensible. Nothing will happen to you if you accidentally touch your pooch’s poop. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Many pooch owners are squeamish about pooch poop, but it is not dangerous to you!
You should take great care not to accidentally ingest any of your pooch’s waste. For example, if you ate something right after handling it and not washing your hands first. If you have a toddler running around your yard, it pays to be vigilant. Another reason why picking up your pooch’s poop can be so important.
How do you dispose of your pooch’s poop?
Once you have that plastic bag of pooch poop in your hand, what do you do with it? It is important to know the etiquette of disposing pooch poop and what places are acceptable.
Generally, it is only acceptable to dispose of pooch poop into a public pooch waste bin or your own outside bin.
You can also dispose of pooch poop by flushing it down the toilet. If you choose to do so, choose specific poochy poop bags that were made for this.
If you do not want pooch poop in your own bin, you can set up a small poochy bin in the corner of your yard for the waste after you have picked up pooch poop.
Tech to the Rescue
There are now several devices that can help you with cleaning up pooch poop. A poop scoop essentially scoops up your puppy’s poop for you. You can keep this device in the yard (if your pooch tends to go in the backyard) and simply use it to clean up afterwards.
If your pooch has a microchip, ensure you change the address on it. Change the address on their collar as well. Do this before moving, so that you know your pooch is identifiable should they get lost in a new area.
Some people find the poop scoop a little unhygienic, as poop can stick to it sometimes. Make sure you hose it down and use disinfectant after you pick up pooch poop. Also note that if you dispose of the poop without a bag into a bin, then your bin can really smell.
But a poop scoop means that you do not have to bend or ever come in contact with the poop. It comes in several varieties, and usually there are different models for using it on grass or on concrete.
While it may not be a glamorous job, it certainly is a necessary one. Never feel embarrassed about wrestling with pooch poop in the neighbourhood – all it means is that you are a good citizen, environmentally conscious and love your pooch. Your neighbourhood is bound to be grateful to have you!