An Unpleasant Encounter

[Heidi & Milton]

Milton and I enjoy taking walks in the early evening when the sun is finally beginning to wane.  Last night we left here at about 8:00P.M., and we began our usually two-mile loop.  We go up one side of the street, sniffing about, and we return down the other side because we need to check that out too. 

Now, Jeff and I might have created a nasty habit (I don't think so.), but during our early morning jogs throughout the school year, we were always faced with a reoccurring dilemma.  Whenever Milton went potty, we would bag it up, and then run with it for about three miles due to a dearth of public trashcans.  This was unpleasant, as you can imagine.  So instead, we began placing this stinky bundle on the corner of the sidewalk to pick up when we looped back around.  A small plastic bag sitting out of the way, to me, does not seem like too much of an inconvenience to anyone, especially if it is not directly situated on someone's property.  Gasp, shake your head, and think what you may, but we are responsible adults, and we always circle back to pick up what is rightfully ours to dispose of in a trash receptacle.

Getting back to my original story, last night Milt and I were enjoying our evening stroll and, most importantly, minding our own business.  Milton began heavy sniffing on the edge of someone's yard, and he proceeded to potty.  As Milton's Momma, I immediately untied the waste bag, that we always carry on Milton's leash, and I scooped up his poop.  As this occurred in the first few minutes of our walk, I neatly tied up the bag and carefully placed it directly under a stop sign at the end of that street.  I checked the street name, to mark our spot, and I knew we would be back in about 20 minutes to pick up the bag and take it home.

Milt and I continued about our merry way when I was spooked by a jogger, in his late 40s, huffing and puffing along on our left.  This is the dialogue that ensued:

Disgruntled jogger:  "That was a very unneighborly thing you did back there with your poop bag."

Incredulous me:  "We walk this route daily, and we are circling right back to pick it up.  Do you expect me to carry it for the entire walk?"

Disgruntled jogger:  <Grunts.>  Proceeds to continue jogging.

At my yoga class, we always discuss life issues, including energy.  Well, my positive energy collided with that man's negative energy resulting in a very unpleasant remainder of our walk.  How dare he intrude upon my life with his snide remark.  Nasty rebuttals, that I wish I had said, began to circulate in my head, like, "From the looks of you, I obviously walk this route a lot more than you jog it," or "I would never comment on your painstakingly slow pace, so don't comment on my dog etiquette."  My main point of contention is if this man thought I left the bag there, with no intention of ever picking it up again, why would I have even bothered to scoop up Milt's waste?  Instead I would have just left it smoldering on the grass...

Post-walk

Favorite spot

I concede.  Perhaps our habit could be interpreted as rude.  I see it as savvy especially if you are walking or running multiple miles, carrying a noxious bag of excrement is a bit bothersome.  Right or wrong -- the take-away from this story is I let that jogger's negative energy run all over me; I had an awful lot of trouble shaking it off.  For next time that anything rattles me, I need to refocus and realign my thoughts.  The person affected the most in a troublesome situation is the one who harbors the ill feelings instead of breathing and letting go.

The funny part is Milton's simple, natural action induced that spiteful comment, and I don't think he was bothered in the slightest.

To read more about Milton the Goldendoodle please visit www.goldilocksandherdoodle.com

[Adina P]

I'm with Debb.  I think both of you meant well and it just was bad communication/misread motives. 

[Heidi & Milton]

I am quite surprised that this blog post generated so many comments!  At least I am not the only one who has struggled with this doggie dilemma!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I hate having to lug the poop bag all around, but I won't put it into other's private garbage cans either and we don't have any public cans in our residential area.  I have done "the pick it up later" but only if I can put it where it's out of sight.  Plus I always double bag in case I do have to carry it along.  

Your jogger could have used more tact-but maybe he's been burnt by others less responsible.  I like the flag and sticky note suggestion!

 "This poop belongs to my dog and I will be back to properly dispose of it"  

Maybe we could sell bags with tags attached and donate the profits to the DRC!!! 

[Lynn D.]

I think if you were truly an irresponsible dog owner you wouldn't have bagged the poo. I mean really, if you were going to leave a pile, why go through the effort and expense of bagging it. If I had seen someone leave bagged poo, I would have checked the next day before jumping conclusions. Some people can be so crabby!

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Really funny today, I walked DerbyDoodle with a coffee cup...once I finished I left on a rock by the corner..round trip I picked it up....that guy assumed the worst or maybe more appropriately what he would do!! Shame on him!! For startling you & being rude!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We sometimes to the same thing when our dogs poop on a walk that we are not nearly done with.  Luckily for us, we haven't ever been acosted about it.

[Lonnie &amp; Libby Lu]

I think the guy was rude, but then again there are people all the time leaving it and never coming back for it and maybe that is a sore subject for him!  To be rude is another story, he could have just talked to you in a civil conversation!   Coming back for it is very nice and the right thing to do and unfortunately not many do:(

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Its funny, along the deserted stretch where I normally stash the poo, I often see other bags as well, but the next day they are gone. I have a feeling there are many people who do this! Joanna, I LOVE the 'toothpick flag' idea! Maybe making a reusable nylon flag with lettering on it, attached to a small, plastic 'pole' is something to think about :)

[Donna K & Quincy]

I too stash bags of poo for later pick up when we will be returning the same way. There are no trash cans in our neighborhood, not a one. I keep asking the town to place trash cans but my pleas have fallen on deaf ears. I know more people would pick up if there was somewhere convenient to dispose of it. Bagging for later pick up is much better than not bagging at all.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

LOL this reminds me of a story.  My co workers husband absolutely can not pick up fresh poop for some reason.  She says that he gags and his whole entire body gets into it.  He takes the dogs on walks and does not pick up after them right away.  He picks them up the next day!  And if his dogs waste is no longer there he picks up someone else's out of courtesy.  Now this totally cracked me up but while i was laughing I was imagining all those people watching him as he just walked right past the waste after his dog does his business.  We decided he should make little post-it flags on toothpicks "will be back to pick up". LOL