fbpx
Culture > Et Cetera

Please don’t leave dog poop on the sidewalk

Or on any patch of asphalt that other people use for walking

Life is more wonderful with a pet, isn't it? PHOTO FROM PIXABAY

While I’m fond of dogs, I’ll probably never own one again for the rest of my life. Not least because my current circumstances would not allow me to do so. I’m just making it clear so readers do not accuse me of being a pet hater after finishing this piece.

You see, I’ve been doing a lot of walking lately—part of my goal to regain my fitness after undergoing brain surgery in August. The activity has benefited me tremendously both physically and mentally, but it has also made me realize a couple of things about how we use the road (specifically, the sidewalk). I’m referring to how pet owners walk their dogs and let them poop without cleaning the mess.

Now, I don’t know if there’s a black-and-white rule about this, but the decent part of me is pretty sure this is wrong. Here, let me show you (apologies if you’re eating right now):

Yes, we saw the leashed dog do this (with its handler watching). PHOTO BY VERNON B. SARNE

Just to be absolutely certain, I asked four pet-owning friends for their take on this. They all said the same thing: They always clean after their pets when taking them out of the house. Always. They scoop the thing with paper or put it in a poop bag. They do this because dog waste is unsanitary and can even spread disease. You owe it to other road users (like, ahem, fitness-conscious pedestrians) to properly dispose of the animal feces left by your cute puppy.

I understand there are environment-related concerns attached to poop bags—hopefully, you’re using the compostable type—so you need to address this issue as well. That’s part of being a responsible animal owner.

Keep living your happy life with your dogs and cats, but also do not inconvenience other people with your passion. Let’s coexist without being nuisances to each other.



Vernon B. Sarne

Vernon is the founder and editor-in-chief of VISOR. He has been an automotive journalist since July 1995. He became one by serendipity, walking into the office of a small publishing company and applying for a position he had no idea was for a local car magazine. God has watched over him throughout his humble journey. He writes the ‘Spoiler’ column.



Comments