Let’s start by saying the obvious: 2020 has been a terrible decade. From the raging fires across the world to the social unrest to the most important election in our lifetimes (VOTE!), a lot of hope has been lost and a lot of cynicism has taken hold. Unless you started the pandemic rich, you’re most likely suffering through more and more impending uncertainty around your income and rent payment. The shit keeps piling on, and we haven’t even talked about COVID. Life is hard.
But behind clouds is a ray of light. The movement to stand up for social justice, volunteers pouring out to help those in need after another round of tropical storms, and the historically low numbers of animals in shelters during the pandemic all give a glimmer of hope. Many are turning inward to find ways to heal and help a world that has been scarred for centuries. Many are trying.
What does this have to do with dog shit? Walking down the street with our dogs, it isn’t surprising to see a steaming pile of feces on the grass, left behind from some other neighborhood dog. Queue all the Nextdoor complaint threads about how dog owners are ruining the neighborhood by not cleaning up after their dogs! Insert the fingers pounding on keyboards in Facebook groups about the disgusting mess that is “constantly” left behind from neighbors who just don’t care anymore. The world, as noted above, has gone to shit.
What none of these flowing outpourings of rage ever acknowledge is that sometimes people make mistakes. Sometimes people forget to carry a bag (god knows I do). Sometimes a mother is juggling three dogs and a stroller. Sometimes a disabled neighbor is trying to get home with their therapy dog because the rain started and they forgot a cover for their wheelchair.
My point is that sometimes things happen, and with all the ongoing shit storms that we are experiencing as a society, the least I can do is clean up some random dog shit. I have the privilege of having the money to buy ample amounts of poop bags. I have the privilege of having two functioning legs. I have the privilege of time, attention, and no toddler pulling on my arm.
And I have the privilege of being there myself, looking around aimlessly as my own dog squats to shit in a parking strip in front of a house, the homeowner’s eyes burning a whole in my chest as I stand their helplessly with nothing I can do. I know the embarrassment that comes from not being able to clean up after my pet.
Why do we have to make a big thing of this? Why can’t we show enough compassion to clean up a pile of dog shit when we’re already bent over picking up another? Why do we have to unleash a belligerent tirade against our neighbors for something that, in the end, they may not have had any control over?
And maybe you’re not comfortable bagging up and disposing of a dog’s shit. Cool. That’s awesome. But there are still options to help. First, you could redirect that internal disgust towards your neighbors into an email to your local neighborhood groups or community legislature, asking them to install more garbage cans, or install poop bag dispensers in your local parks (this would be a huge help in my neighborhood, nudge nudge Seattle Parks). I promise, if everyone who complained on Nextdoor would instead turn their disgust towards their local representatives, there would be more options for clean up.
Second, for those more inclined to get thrifty, you can craft your own dog poop bag dispenser. It’s easy, quick, and you can encourage others to add to the bags as they are able. Again, you make the bags more available, and you won’t have to clean up any shit!
There are options to help. In the end, though, we need to learn to be helpful and compassionate towards our neighbors. All of us are wading through a mountain of shit, why do we have to pile on?
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