Poll: SF weighs in on the great dog poop debate
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Don't leave it on the ground. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Picture this: After an agonizingly long uphill walk through one of San Francisco's scenic neighborhoods, your dog finally does their business. You scoop it up and realize there are no nearby public trash cans.
What's your next move?
We asked you to share your thoughts on the predicament in question: Is it socially acceptable to use a neighbor's can for dog waste disposal?
The latest: Of the 249 San Franciscans who responded to our poll asking what the best etiquette is, 64% said you take it home or put it in a public trash can.
- 30% answered that you put it in the nearest receptacle, even if it's someone's personal trash can.
- 6% noted that you're happily cat people.
- And no one admitted to not picking it up at all.
Readers weigh in:
🚶♀️ Auriel A. offered the most lenient take: "I think all outside trash cans (personal or public) are fair game! As long as it's not overflowing (that's rude) or going to disrupt anyone's enjoyment of their property."
🙅♀️ Michele T. did not agree: "I'm okay dumping them in public bins, but never someone's private bin unless they have told you it's okay. If I can't find a public bin I take it home."
🤢 Matt A. mentioned the smell factor: "I find it very disrespectful when dog owners put their poop bags in my can that then goes to my hot garage for up to a week (usually on collection morning), which can stink up the place."
🤝 Olivia M. found some middle ground: "It's ok to pop it on top of a private bin that's out for trash pick up and still full.
- Dropping it in someone's empty bin after their trash has been collected — so it festers at the bottom of their bin all week — is pathological."
💩 Kira G. prefers putting the stinky burden onto a business: "If I'm carrying poo and I know I'm not going to pass a public bin, I figure disposing of it is less evil than other potential options.
- However, I try to find bins that belong to businesses versus private homes."
🐕🦺 Anthony T., a professional dog walker, said: "If the bins are on the curb with trash ready for pickup, I have no qualms about tossing bags, but you've got to have quality bags that are property sealed.
- It's never ok to toss bags in empty bins that are stored close to the street."
🗑️ Zein T. brought up a great point about the lack of public trash cans: "You can walk many, many, many blocks in the Mission without a city can.
- This makes it all the more tempting to throw it in a neighbor's can when you are looking at another 20 minutes until you see a city one."
💭 My thought bubble: Well said, Zein, well said. Alas, it's a citywide problem I've been frustrated about for years!