The Pick-Up Police

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

Sometimes, I feel like I'm the only person in my apartment complex who bothers to pick up after my dogs. Straying from the paved paths is like walking through a field of doggy doo landmines. Sometimes even the paths aren't safe!

To be honest, I'm not sure what I can do to get people to pick up after their pets. I've come up with a few ideas:

• There are four doggy bag depots around the complex. Maybe more would help?
• Leave extra bags at the entrance to each unit. I've tried tying spare baggies to the railings so they would be at hand when needed.
• I've tried hanging up signs outside my own unit to help remind people to pick up after their dogs.
• I've thought about buying a pack of kebab skewers and flagging every pile I see. Maybe even put a little sign up: please pick up after your pet!

It's a one-woman war on poop!

When I'm out walking Moose and Lally, I do make an effort to scoop up a little "extra" when I'm picking up after them. I make sure I have at least two bags in my jacket pocket at all times. I save plastic grocery bags to use so I'm not emptying the doggy bag depots.

I wonder if it comes down to perception -- this may be just an apartment complex, but it is my home. Other people may just see it as a temporary situation, or just not their problem to deal with. Somebody else will pick up after their dog.

Apparently, that somebody is me. I care about this place, I care about keeping it nice for everyone who lives here. I care about not contaminating the ground with dog waste.

Do you have any ideas? I'm going to mention my concerns to the apartment management when I renew my lease this month... but I don't know what more they can do. Maybe they'll give me a break on my rent if I become the official Poop Picker for the complex.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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