Isn't it about time that we did something about people walking their dogs throughout ''Our'' neigborhood and letting thir pets relieve themselves wherever they want without picking up after them? It should be understood that when you walk your dog, carry plastic bags to pick up after them. I am so tired of picking up poop after someone else's pet!

Dog training will help

The yard-owner owns the problem. The owner can remove the poop or persuade pet-owners to act. Their options are either to remove it or cause it to be dropped elsewhere. The poop is essentially organic fertilizer. If it is dropped somewhere else, the location has to be able to use the fertilizer. Otherwise, plant life is destroyed and an eyesore and health hazard is created. It seems the best solution is for pet owners to act for the common good by training their pets. To train a pet to use its own yards before walking down the street, show the dog its leash, take it to a tree on your property and stay there until the dog does its business, then reward it. This should work and I will start training my dogs as soon as possible.

However, some pet-owners may not be successful in training their pets or the pet may just be as surprised as everyone else by its BM. To guard against surprises, the petowner can walk down the street lugging a plastic bag, scoop, and then have to possibly carry a pooper for duration of the walk. This is asking a petowner to do a lot when somebody else owns the problem. So it is more likely that when training fails the concerned landowner will have to make the tools available for dealing with a surprise pooper. One suggestion would be for the concerned land owner to place some plastic Walmart bags in a container on or near the mailbox along with a scoop and a place for pet-owners to hang or drop used bags (maybe a little covered plastic trash can). Providing the pet-owner with everything needed shows the landowner is concerned and eliminates reasons for the pet-owner to not be helpful in dealing with a surprise pooper.


By Al Pettigrew

Plan B

Ok, I tried once to train the little dog but I don't think I will ever be successful with it. So, Plan B. I bought a pooper scooper from the Dollar Store in Singing River Mall for $1 and 10 4-quart plastic bags in a pocket size despenser from Walmart for $0.97.

If I ever take the dog for a walk again, I'll try to carry the scooper. I only hope that there will be someplace to leave a bag along the walk so I don't have to carry it far.


By Al Pettigrew

Neighborhood Animals

I love dogs as much as anyone and have two of my own, but agree that as residents, we owe it to our neighbors to pick up after our animals. Those plastic WalMart bags are great for that purpose. Also, I am a new resident and not familiar with local animal containment ordinances, but I walk my dogs on leashes for their safety as well as well as the safety of others. When animals run loose they pose a danger to the rest of us and are at risk of being hit by a car. Just because your dog is friendly and has never bitten anyone, it could be provoke another dog to bite or be provoked to bite by another dog. If you love your animals the way most people love their children, please keep the animals leashed when out in public.