Winter Garden Magazine September 2017 | Page 42

The Great Doggie Doo-Doo featuring Tails from the Alley Allison Couture Otero Debate Y ou might be surprised to learn that there are actual in a fine that ranges from $84 to $110. I don’t know laws regarding the disposal of your dog’s poop. about you, but I’d much rather spend that money in our fine town on a nice meal or a glass of wine! Doggie doo-doo contains a host of bacteria that can make other animals - and humans - sick. Also, when we As hilarious as it sounds, there are ethical guidelines don’t pick up our pet’s waste and it rains, it gets washed regarding your dog’s poop disposal. Who knew? into sewers and other drainage areas that lead to our waterways killing fish and other wildlife. While the One “hot” debate is regarding where you throw it environmental impact of pet waste is small, it adds up, out. While you are walking your dog, is it OK to put considering four in 10 households own at least one dog. a bag of poop into someone else’s trash can? As a professional dog walker, I have wrestled with this In fact, failure to pick up your pet’s waste on public conundrum several times. As much as it might make ways, recreation areas, or private property could result you giggle, let’s dissect this ever-so-delicate topic. On one hand - why not? Trash is trash, right? A poll of over 400 people concluded that two-thirds of those thought it was OK to drop tied bags of doggie doo-doo in other people’s trash cans. I believe the key word in the previous sentence is “tied.” I would never 42  |  WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE  |   SEPTEMBER 2017