Pet Knows

Poop soup (yes, you heard me correctly) started innocently enough in the spring of 2003. My wife and I had just brought home our puppy and he was prolific in his waste production. The reason for his productivity was due to the recommended serving size on the pet food bag. It was considerably more than he needed at the time…..

But we’ll get back to that at a later date.

Living in a townhouse with no yard to speak of, we walked our lab in the common area behind our house. For the first two weeks we scooped his poop and disposed of the waste in a plastic trashcan lined with a plastic garbage bag. The idea was to dispose of the bag when it became full. Seemed like a good idea at the time, with no drawbacks we could think of….

Then came the rain - lots of it. Rain and then the pollen - two things that anyone who has lived in Washington, D.C. in the springtime will remember without hesitation. This spring was no different. But, after a week of heavy rain, the skies finally cleared and DC was rewarded with 80 degree weather for the next month. We were rewarded with something completely different: poop soup.

So, poop soup had been born. Weighing approximately 25 pounds now due to 3 gallons of water and dozens of poops, the smell was deafening. Sir Didymus and Ambrosius of Labyrinth fame would have been proud as this was my personal version of the Bog of Eternal Stench.

I determined the only safe place for disposal would be the Montgomery County Solid Waste Transfer Station. I felt like Eddie Murphy in the Golden Child as I slowly carried it around the house and safely secured it in the back our old SUV. My wife and I rode together with our heads out the window and 30 minutes later I heaved the toxic bouillabaisse into the waste container.

You’re probably asking yourself by now why I have ruined your day with my story about poop soup - but I swear I have a reason! Earth Day was yesterday and since we’ve already shown you an example of biodegradable bags I wanted to post an alternative solution: Doggie Dooley Pet Waste Disposal System for those readers who may encounter a similar situation to poop soup and don’t know what to do.

Designed to be a septic tank for your dog’s waste, you basically dig a hole in your yard and install the Dooley into the ground. By adding water and the “digester powder” the Dooley comes to life and naturally breaks down the feces. According to the PetSmart website, the Dooley is an environmentally-approved system that is “non-toxic, non-caustic and safe for all domestic animals. Harmless to lawns, pets, and shrubs”.

Good luck to all of you dog owners out there - remember to always pick up after your pets and be mindful of the environment (and your neighbors) when disposing of the waste.