Plus, are you a bagger or a scooper? Keep reading to find out which one is right for you!
So, What’s the Scoop?
Some of you might be thinking, “Do we really need to have a week dedicated to my dog’s poop?” And on the surface, it might seem like a goofy idea to talk about bagging versus scooping, but there’s a message of awareness underneath pointing out the mess.
We all know it’s good to clean up after your dog in public out of courtesy. That’s why we carry doggie bags on every walk and dispose of our dog’s waste in public trash cans. But there’s more to it than just tossing dog poop.
Now, some people don’t pick up after their dogs and instead think that their dog’s poop is helping the environment. However, this isn’t the case: your dog’s waste is actually a huge problem when left on the ground.
A dog’s poop is not a “natural fertilizer” but a smelly nuisance that can spread serious diseases. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, dog poop can spread up to 65 diseases that can transmit to humans and other animals.
Because dog poop contains nutrients and pathogens, two primary environmental pollutants, this waste harms the environment more than anything. When dog poop ends up in bodies of water, it decomposes but ends up causing excessive growth of weeds and algae. This process pollutes the water, making it murky, smelly, and unsafe for human and animal contact. When this polluted water makes its way through the water system, it can cause illness to humans and animals.
If a dog has an untreated case of a parasite like hookworms, roundworms, or tapeworms, these nasty creatures can find their way into our water supply. In fact, 20% of water contaminated by bacteria directly traces back to dog waste. Even if the waste is left on the ground with no waterways nearby, parasites and bacteria can still infect others.
Think about how your dog sticks their nose in the grass at the dog park: what if they get their face into another dog’s poop infected with worms? Even worse, what if your dog starts eating that poop? This scenario is why it’s every dog owner’s responsibility to pick up after their dog no matter what.
Remember to carry doggie bags and an optional scooper with you every time you go out with your dog. Even if your dog is perfectly healthy, you should never leave their waste behind on the ground.
Tools of the Trade
Getting back to doggie bags and pooper scoopers, do you solely rely on one or the other, or even both? First, let’s get the full scoop on each of these methods, and then you can tell us which one you prefer!
When it comes to using bags, you can carry them anywhere in a convenient pack that attaches to your bag or your dog’s leash. But, to pick up after your dog, you have to feel the poop through the bag. And if you’re concerned about being eco-friendly, plastic bags can become a major waste issue in landfills.
That’s why there are some dedicated scooper fans out there. If you gag at the thought of picking up dog poop, even though it’s through a plastic bag, a pooper scooper might be a better choice for you. However, scoopers come in many different shapes and sizes, so not all of them are small and compact. If you don’t use the scooper as a device to scoop the poop into a bag, then you’ll have to make sure a trash can is nearby when you scoop.
Both are great options as long as your dog’s poop gets picked up and properly disposed of in a trash can. Some people are Team Bagger, and others are Team Scooper. It depends on which method works best for you, but we can handle friendly competition here.
How about you? Are you a bagger or a scooper? Let us know in the comments below.
We're celebrating Scoop the Poop Week with Double Pet Points all week, April 24-30, so stock up on your Porch Potty favorites!