I read an article yesterday by Debbie Messina. It was about the dispensers with little bags attached to trashcans in downtown Norfolk. It seems that not all residents in downtown Norfolk pick up after their dogs. So, the city decided to help them out. It’s actually a good idea if people use it.

This article on PilotOnline.com had several comments. Most of them were pretty silly and didn’t make much sense. Some people think their tax money shouldn’t be spent on something like this. Maybe these people don’t realize what a mess would be left if all the dog owners didn’t clean up their pet’s waste. It costs far more if the city has to clean it up than if we do it ourselves.

Most dog owners do plan to pick up after their pet and carry shopping bags with them. When you see someone walking a dog with a plastic grocery bag, you can bet it’s not groceries in that bag. Others buy the small holders that attach to leashes and use refills of bags. Norfolk is trying to encourage and help out the few dog owners who don’t plan or run out of bags on their walk.

I know you’re thinking “How do you run out of bags if you planned your walk?” Easy. I’ve done it on occasion. Sometimes Mac and Munch get really excited and put out more than I thought they would. When we would walk the trail to the beach, I would take 4 or 5 bags. Some days that was more than enough. Some days it wasn’t. I was really glad Hampton Parks had these little dispensers along the state park trail. I could have been rude and left it there but there are good reasons to pick it up.

I ran a pooper-scooper service on the Peninsula for several years. I tried to teach homeowners why it was better to clean up their yards rather than leaving the waste there. I got some of the ideas from a friend who runs Yuckos.com. Here are the best reasons to pick up after your dog:

1. It keeps fecal matter out of the water supply. This is especially important here. We have the Chesapeake Bay and all the rivers to keep clean. Would you like to drink or swim in water that has fecal matter in it?

2. It keeps parasites from growing in your yard and possibly infecting your child or pet. Not everyone gets their pet checked for worms. Sometimes you may not even know your pet has worms. Why take a chance?

3. It reduces the bacteria level in soil and bacterial run off in rain water. When you hear of a beach being closed because of a high bacteria level it should make you think about where the bacterium comes from. Some of it is from birds like seagulls and ducks or geese. Some of it could be from Fido. Your tax money pays for the tests and clean up of the infected water. Makes the cost of bags seem cheap, doesn’t it?

4. Picking up after your pet makes your yard more people friendly, especially if you have guests.

5. No stinky shoes or soiled carpets.

6. Reduces the attraction for rats and other garbage eating pests. You don’t wants rats and lots of flies around do you?

7. Reduces the chance for dogs to eat fecal matter. Some dogs do this a lot. It’s difficult to retrain them not to after they get in the habit. Eating fecal matter can cause your dog to keep getting worms or get sick from something another dog has. Picking up waste can cut down on trips to the vet and save you money.

So, recycle those shopping bags or use those little bags the city provides. Your neighbors and the tourists will appreciate it.

By the way, I told you yesterday about the event sponsored by the Sighthound Organization of Tidewater. I didn’t give you a website for them. Their website is http://www.geocities.com/sighthoundorgoftidewater/.

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