Talking Dirty

    Dogs poop.  It's a fact of life.  You put food in one end and poop comes out the other.  If you own a dog, you own their poop.  Just like having a baby.  You feed them, you clean them until they can clean themselves.  But a dog, lacking an opposable thumb, has to depend on others to clean up after it all its life.
     I'm always pleased to see a dog with plastic bags tied to the leash.  It says to me this is a responsible owner who is thinking ahead and prepared to clean up after the pet if necessary.
     What I am not pleased to see is dog poop on lawns next to sidewalks.  That says to me the person walking the dog is inconsiderate and irresponsible.  I wonder - would they let their child take a crap on the grass?
     Then we have the bag tossers - the halfway folks.  They get the poop in the bag, but leave the bag for someone else to dispose of.  To return to our analogy:  would they leave dirty diapers on someone's lawn?  
     How can we explain this disconnect in thinking? It seems clear to me - you own a dog, you cean up after it.  No owner's manual or special instructions are required.  You just do it.  It's part of being a parent or a dog owner.
      That dog you're walking gives you attention, devotion, an opportunity to go for a walk, cheers you up when you're low.  Is it asking too much to dispose of its waste?