What Atlanta has to say about dog poop etiquette
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
We recently asked y'all to opine on how dog owners should dispose of their pet waste.
Why it matters: It's a topic that many people are vocal about — and y'all did not hold back.
By the numbers: 254 readers voted in our poll. 79% said owners should take the waste home or dispose of it in a public trash bin, compared to 20% who said they should just chuck it in the nearest trash can — even if it belonged to someone else.
- 1% had the audacity to say they leave their dog's poop where it was deposited.
Here's what y'all told us:
Melissa L.: "I personally don't care if someone puts their bagged poop in my personal trash can because after all, it's for trash."
Grant D.: "I tote it to the nearest public bin, except on two occasions. One: bins are out and trash hasn't come yet. The other one: when a bin is left on the street a couple days after the trash has come."
Richard T.: "I am a dog owner and you take it home!"
Andy A.: "Own the pet, own the poop. Why is this even a question?"
Lucy B.: "Your dog, your poop, your trash. The worst is when they leave it in your yard for you to clean up or step in. The second worst is when they drop it (in) on trash day after collection."
Nasha D.: "Take your dog poop home. It's the price of having a pet."
Dorrie F.: "My dog wears a dog backpack and [I] make him carry it back. People don't want the poop in their trash bins, I don't want to walk along with a poop bag, problem solved."
Mirja M.: "Pick up the poop. You shouldn't have a dog if you can't do that."
Erin P.: "100% your responsibility to take it home. I've been a dog owner most [of] my life and would never have the audacity to dump it in someone else's trash cans."
Andrew L.: "I'm camp 'I take mine home, but wouldn't mind if anyone threw their dog poop in my trash bin and maybe if I knew that was a more popular stance, I would start dropping mine in people's trash bins'."
Lee D.: "As a dog mom, when we are out on walks, I am conscious about only putting dog poop bags in the dog poop stations. Even when the bags are tied, they are stinky and non-pet neighbors shouldn't have to deal with that."
Hardin L.: "I pick up the doo-doo and find the nearest receptacle; however, said receptacle must be on the street. I am not some savage who will walk up someone's driveway to dispose of the excrement."
Alex K.: "If you are walking with the dog the night before or the morning of trash pick-up day, it is fair game to throw bagged business in a neighbors trash can. Otherwise it is rude."