I expect that your human, like mine, goes around with a little bundle of plastic bags in their pocket, as they are responsible people and always take care to pick up your poop.
But in recent years our humans (as well as canines with a scientific bent) will surely have been reading about all the environmental problems caused by plastic, even the supposedly biodegradable kind, and worrying that those little plastic bags will end up in the tummy of a whale.
A couple of weeks ago Gail took me for a short walk in the beautiful and pristine environment of the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.
At the start of the footpath we noticed this new 'dog stop', which turned out to be a dispenser for 'nature-friendly poop scoops' made out of paper and cardboard.
Gail took one of these scoops and put it in her pocket. She did not use it that day because (1) I had already done my morning poop and (2) The instructions looked a bit complicated and she felt it would be better to take the bag home and make sure she was unfolding and re-folding the right bits, pointing out that no-one wants to walk along with dog poop on the outside of the poop scoop, however environmentally friendly it is...
Well a couple of days ago, feeling confident with the origami aspects of the eco-scoop, Gail decided to try it out on our morning park walk.
Most considerately, I waited until no-one else was around before evacuating, so Gail could take of photo of the poop-scooping action for this blog without attracting the wrong sort of interest.
Operation successfully executed (aside from a small smear on the handle...) the bag was duly deposited in a nearby bin.
I would like to report that henceforth Gail will always be using this type of poop scoop, but when she looked up the website, www.poopscoop.biz, she discovered that one box of 240 scoops costs £36.47 - that's about 10 times more than the biodegradable plastic bags she normally buys. Also, Gail noted that the paper/cardboard bags are rather unwieldy and do not fit easily into one's pocket. And she's not sure how well they would hold up in the rain.
So we are still looking for the nature-friendly (and wallet-friendly) solution to the poop scoop issue.
Ideas, anyone?
Happy Nature Friday and thanks once again to our friends Arty, Jakey and Rosy for hosting this blog hop.
Bertie, it sounds to us that whoever designed that fancy poop scoop never had a dog - or didn't pick up after it! What a performance, and imagine it in pouring rain, or a high wind! And so expensive too - is someone just hoping to make a lot of money?.
ReplyDeleteMy humans thinks it might have been designed by a computer. She says sorry, but she'll keep using the biodegradable plastic bags, and a very simple plastic scoop which has stood the test of time for all of the six dogs she's had!
By the way, here in Spain, our local town is bringing in a new law that dog owners must carry a spray bottle of water with them at all times, so that any little puddles can immediately be washed down! We have added some fabric conditioner to our bottle and I must admit it's almost worth a pee for the lovely smell afterwards!
So, no, sorry we can't suggest anything
Love,
Inca xx
Wow, we've never heard of the spray bottle thing. Perhaps more relevant to parts of the world with less rain than Scotland!
DeleteYes, that could be true Bertie. We just get the occasional deluge.
DeleteInca xx
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteWell, Bertie lad, this was a most interesting post. One must surely commend the efforts of the company for seeking to change the thinking on poop disposal. However, one is reminded what one used to do for angel Jade's 'walkies'... In OZ, we always received a free local paper and rather than chuck it directly in recycle, I used to make quad-walled 'pokes'. (Tabloid size pages - take two double sheets and keep folded as four pages - fold up one third and then fold over the top third then leaf the bottom third in between the centre pages of the top third -
pushing to creat a tube, roll the loose leaf end a couple of times - the 'centrefold' end is then turned inward to form a 'base'.) If one had forgotten to carry the wee spade, a stick or piece of bark was hand for ensuring complete scoop. The loose leaf end then rolled back over to 'seal' and then deposit accordingly.
Admittedly, these are not 'pocket' pokes either, but wholly free (or at least inexpensive), and wholly biodegradable!
Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx
That looks way too complicated for my simple human to manage!
ReplyDeleteI usually go in my own yard before we go for a walk and my yard has a Doggie Dooley Septic tank. We toss a little Waste Terminator Tablet in there and we are nature planet friendly.
ReplyDeleteWills
That is a very good idea Sweet William, for dogs who are prepared to poop in their own yard. I consider my yard as an extension of the indoor part of my home and so will not do this, much to Gail's frustration.
DeleteToodle pip!
Bertie.
My human is frustrated because I always go in the garden, and I manage to leave a little "present" right where she wants to walk! Well, I like to spread my "gifts" about!
DeleteSo, being good girl, I've now programmed myself to save a little "treat" for her when we're out on our walks! We don't have any pavements so I have the whole road to choose from. Right in the middle is best, so she won't miss it. It's great fun when it's very windy and the little plastic bag blows away! I really have a good laugh!
Inca xx
BOL BOL BOL origami folds in a poop scoop. Good idea to take it home for further inspection. A bad fold could be messy!! Surely a good idea but I agree it needs work. Thank you and Gail for this demo..no worries about the Manners Police has redeemed himself. He has a new and very impawtant new title. Coming to a blog near you SOON
ReplyDeleteHugs Cecilia
That looks way too complicated for my mom. BOL
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Don't think it would be practical when walking three dogs. Even the plastic ones are a bit difficult. But at least they're trying.
ReplyDeleteThat paper bag does look a bit complicated and too bad it's so expensive.
ReplyDeleteThat seems like a good first step, like when a computer took up an entire room. I am sure they will become easier to manage over time. Or we could just leave the poop and say we are doing it for the environment.
ReplyDeleteWe think it is nice humans are researching ways to make poopy bags more ecological...Our bags are the kind that are suppose to decompose quicker....
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
Most of the time we poop in our yard but when we are out and about mom tries to always have poop bags in her back pocket. That contraption does not look pocket friendly
ReplyDeletehugs
Mabel & Hilda
Definitely too complicated for us simple country folks. But thanks for pointing out the problem - we will keep our eyes peeled for better solutions.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way Lady could manage this. Be sure to see our tomorrow's post, you will appreciate it. Lady says she likes when we poop in the bush on our property because she feels comfortable leaving it. Lady had heard there are ways to compost poop. She has not explored this year. If you find a good alternative, please share.
ReplyDeleteTell Lady it might be worth investigating the option suggested by Sweet William in his comment above.
DeleteMy goodness! That would not work at all on our walk, because there are 2 of us and we often, ahem, go twice! But truly, there must be a better way!
ReplyDeleteKiki and Rosie
Hi hi hi! Ojo here! Poop is important business! But I do not have any ideas for you. Our person uses the biodegradable bags, and tries to fit as many of our poops into one bag as possible - that might be four poops from the two of us on one walk! I would imagine your poops are a little smaller than ours, and many not fill up a bag in the same way...
ReplyDelete