Approaching a Messy Situation

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?

  1. Do you ignore it and walk on by?
  2. Do you grumble and pick it up?
  3. 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?

  1. “Oh my, your dog is leaving a messy situation behind.”

  2. “I just observed your dog scratching around. He seems quite impressed with his output today.”

  3. “Oh dear… that’s a crappy situation.”

  4. “Oh look… Your dog’s end result is over there.”

  5. “Hi there. Looks like you’re on clean-up doo-ty.”

  6. “I spy with my little eye something that is brown.”

  7. “Attention please… Clean up on trail two!”

  8. “Wow, your dog would easily win the prize for biggest output!”

  9. “Whoa, that one would sure make a mess of someone’s shoes.”

  10. “Yikes! That one’s gotta be a two-bagger. Let me know if you need an extra bag.”

  11. “Too bad there’s no prize for largest park deposit but your dog would certainly win!”

  12. “Goodness! How much does your dog eat to have output like that?” 

  13. “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:

  1. “May I offer you a bag?”
  2. “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!

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