Cleaning up after pets isn’t the most glamorous part of life.
But it is a necessary part of pet ownership.
Cats can’t clean out their own litter box, and dogs need people to scoop the poop.
Some pet owners are just so lazy, though.
They’ll just leave their dog’s poop any old place.
This tends to tick off the neighbors.
Redditor DisasterLast6755 wanted to discuss his experience and get some feedback, so naturally, he came to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subreddit.
He asked:
“AITA Told A Couple To Carry Their Dog’s Poop?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I (35 M[ale]) was out on a walk with my kids in the neighborhood park.”
“We came across a couple and their large dog, who took a s**t.”
“I watched them bag it and then… leave the bag next to the concrete path.”
“They started walking away.”
“I asked why they are leaving it.”
“They said they’d get it on their way back.”
“I told them I thought that was rude as f**k and they should carry it.”
“They told me they didn’t want to and to blame the city because they took away the trash cans.”
“Which is true, the city took away the non-ramada and playground trash cans.”
“Budget cuts so fewer spots to service.”
“I pointed out they are still littering, and it’s pretty disrespectful to your neighbors to leave it.”
“I said they were lazy dog owners and pieces of s**t themselves if they left it.”
“They got pissed, called me an a**hole, and told me to mind my own business.”
“They went a different direction than me and left the poop.”
“No idea if it got picked up.”
“Will see on tomorrow’s walk.”
The OP was left to wonder:
“So… AITA?
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed in on some options to the question AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors declared that OP was NOT the A**hole.
“NTA. If you choose to own a dog, you are responsible for disposing of its waste responsibly.” ~ Wise_Session_5370
“I’ve carried my dog’s poop miles at a time before finding a garbage can.”
“It’s not hard.” ~ Hank_Dad
“I keep an empty Pringles container in my hiking backpack specifically for full dog poop bags… lol.”
“Some trailheads don’t have trash cans, so I carry it to the car and throw it out at the next trash can.”
“I hate when people leave dog poop bags on trails.” ~ dmwkb
“What’s the point of them bagging it if they’re gonna leave it? SMH.” ~ Brownie-0109
“It’s insane.”
“They’re almost certainly not going to pick it back up on their way back, and by the time you’ve already bagged it, just clip it to the leash and get on with your walk like a grownup.”
“Or you can do what I do and do a long walk AFTER my dog has gone near my house so I can toss the bag, wash my hands, and then enjoy a walk without carrying a bag of poop.” ~ somethinginthewine
“I don’t get what the problem is in carrying it with them; it’s in a bag.” ~ _Roxxs_
“People are lazy, it’s the same reason why people won’t carry their general rubbish to a bin; they simply don’t want to carry it because that’s slightly more effort than not carrying it.” ~ Xavius20
“Yeah, people are lazy as f**k.”
“I was fishing with my son earlier today at a public park.”
“There are some picnic tables in the fishing area and at least three full-size trash cans, none more than thirty feet away from the tables, which people mostly use as a place to park tackle and as a workbench for their rigs.”
“Yet there were plastic bottles and takeout cups on the ground…” ~ HandBananasRevenge
“When I’ve finished my can of cola and chocolate bar, I’ll place the empty can and wrapper beside the footpath to collect later on my way back.”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“NO! Because it’s f**king litter!”
“Keep hold of it until you find a bin. If the bin is full, keep hold of it until you find another.”
“No bins?”
“Take it home! NTA.” ~ QOTAPOTA
“When there isn’t a receptacle, you carry it until you find a receptacle.”
“That isn’t difficult, and it’s just how it goes. NTA.” ~ SuperPookypower
“NTA. As a dog owner, I despise people who just leave their dog’s s**t lying around.”
“Poop and scoop people!” ~ tlldrkhndsm
“NTA. I’m a dog owner and I HATE this s**t – it makes people who don’t own dogs hate dogs, and gives them ammunition to advocate for excluding dogs from public spaces.”
“I don’t love packing around a sack of warm poop, either, but it’s my dog, therefore my poop and my responsibility.”
“To make it less unpleasant, I pick it up in a poop baggie, seal that baggie into a reusable Ziplock bag to contain odors, and put the Ziplock into a canvas pouch that can clip to my dog’s harness, the leash, or the outside of my backpack.”
“I’ve also heard of people putting the full baggies into a Pringles can to seal the odor and make it squish-proof so they can put it in their pack or purse.”
“Dealing with dogsh*t is gross, but it’s 100% the owner’s responsibility, and no one else should have to look at it, step in it, or throw out the baggie.”
“It’s not their responsibility and contributes to the public resenting dogs.” ~ Jumpy_Television8241
“NTA. Massive sense of entitlement from the owners that they can just leave a bag of s**t lying around for everyone else to look at while they continue their walk.”
“I bet they wouldn’t be happy if you dumped bags of s**t on their driveway with a vague promise that you’ll come back later and collect it.”
“Anyway, you know as well as they did that they had no intention of collecting it later.”
“They probably only bagged it and picked it up because you were there.”
“If nobody was around, they would have just left it where it was for someone to step in.” ~ quite_acceptable_man
“Absolutely 100% NTA, holy s**t, I absolutely hate turnips that can’t take responsibility for their dog.”
“No point in even bagging it if they’re just gonna leave it there.” ~ JokerFishClownShoes
“NTA. These people saying YTA have never lived in a city.”
“Those people were not coming back for the poop.”
“Source: the bags of dog poop I see lazily left around my urban neighborhood every day.” ~ beaarthurismymom
“NTA, the truth is, most dog owners who do this don’t collect the bags on the way back.” ~ julesk
“NTA. I see people do this all the time… they take the time to bag up the poop and then leave it down against the sidewalk.”
“It’s even more aggravating when there are dumpsters nearby.” ~ Mr_Evil_Dr_Porkchop
“Good for you, NTA.”
“I feel like this is an excuse I hear a lot, and it can’t be everyone who picks it back up on their return.”
“I guess it escalated quickly, but hopefully that altercation will make them think twice about leaving their shit lying around.” ~ Agreeable_Mess_778
“NTA. People need to be responsible pet owners.”
“They all claim they are gonna pick it up on the way back, and it never happens. Smh.” ~ Pristine_Ad5229
“As a runner, NTA.”
“Nothing worse than having to dodge people’s bags of dog s**t even IF they come back for it (which is unlikely).”
“I have multiple dogs and walk dogs for Rover.”
“I’ve never even considered leaving a bag for later.”
“It’s gross.” ~ Loud_Ad_6871
“If they truly had every intention of grabbing it on their way back through, and it’d be like an hour or less, and assuming there really were no trash cans nearby, I can’t say I totally blame them.”
“I wouldn’t want to walk around carrying a smelly bag of fresh dog sh*t for however long either.”
“It’s still not great, especially leaving it by the path, but I wouldn’t quite call them a**holes and I’d say NAH.”
“BUT, there’s also a pretty damn good chance they were lying and just planned to leave it there, in which case obviously they’re AH and you’re NTA.” ~ cheesecup6
“NTA. Responsible dog owners clean up their dog’s sh*t and take the bag to the next bin to dispose of it.”
“No nonsense, be responsible.”
“It’s dog owners like this to give all other dog owners a bad name.” ~ SpanishPen1
“NTA. It’s not that difficult to carry a bag of dog poop.”
“I’ve carried thousands of bags for probably an accumulated mileage in the thousands over the years.”
“I don’t care if it’s someone who claims they will pick it up on the way back.”
“Just carry it the whole time, you lazy f**ks who do this.” ~ ankerous
“NTA, people do this and forget about it.”
“I’m sure some people just don’t care and leave it.”
“Adults can’t adult these days.”
“I have a dog trainer a couple of houses down from me.”
“They had to pour concrete over their sidewalk because people kept leaving their dog s**t there.”
“They had put up a sign clearly asking people to pick up after their dogs, but it didn’t work.”
“They had a nice patch of grass for their dogs and the neighborhood.” ~ Bitter-Fish-5249
“NTA – can you please give this seminar to my condo community?”
“I am so tired of people not picking up after their dogs; it is so nasty, and they live here!” ~ Tastylicious_Travels
“NTA. Super uncool of them.” ~ riontach
Reddit is on your side, OP.
These people are poor pet owners.
Who leaves a bag of poop lying around?
Then why even bother picking it up in the first place?
If you keep on them, maybe they’ll start doing what’s right.
Good Luck.