We’ve all observed someone who hasn’t noticed their dog pooping. Most times it’s unintentional but the fact is, there’s a missed opportunity to keep the park clean.
Many people struggle with this situation. What to do?
- Do you ignore it and walk on by?
- Do you grumble and pick it up?
- Do you call the person, point it out and hope they pick it up?
If you choose to approach the person, what are some polite, non-confrontational things to say? Maybe a little humour could be helpful. How about the following suggestions?
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“Oh my, your dog is leaving a messy situation behind.”
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“I just observed your dog scratching around. He seems quite impressed with his output today.”
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“Oh dear… that’s a crappy situation.”
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“Oh look… Your dog’s end result is over there.”
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“Hi there. Looks like you’re on clean-up doo-ty.”
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“I spy with my little eye something that is brown.”
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“Attention please… Clean up on trail two!”
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“Wow, your dog would easily win the prize for biggest output!”
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“Whoa, that one would sure make a mess of someone’s shoes.”
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“Yikes! That one’s gotta be a two-bagger. Let me know if you need an extra bag.”
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“Too bad there’s no prize for largest park deposit but your dog would certainly win!”
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“Goodness! How much does your dog eat to have output like that?”
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“Your dog just dropped a load big enough to bury a small child.”
Depending on the situation, you could follow up with one of these comments:
- “May I offer you a bag?”
- “Thanks for helping us keep the park clean.”
There are so many ways to approach the subject but we feel these are a few gentle and effective ways to gain compliance. Best wishes with your chosen approach and thanks for your help!
riverparkdogs 