Bags On Board

We live in a world that places great value on being politically correct. If you think this has nothing to do with pets and their owners, think again!

According to a report published in the Journal of Animal Ethics, using “derogatory” terms such as “critters,” “beasts,” and “pets” when referring to animals of any kind can affect the way they are treated. The editors suggest that even words like “pet,” “wildlife,” or “animal” carry negative associations and we could instead refer to them respectfully as “companion animals,” “free-living animals,” or “differentiated entities.”

This craziness aside, the politically correct action I would like to talk about is picking up your dog’s poop. Stinky subject, I know, but one that should really be addressed. City dwellers, in particular, are quite accustomed to the task required of responsible dog owners. Poop patrol isn’t fun, but as dog owners we must do our part to prevent the pollution of popular paths, keep children and adults from stepping in the squishy stuff, and protect the environment.

Now that we’ve established the need, let’s talk about the actual method. Any way you look at it, it’s a dirty job. At the very least, you’ll need to carry bags with you. You may want to also carry a pooper scooper, but all the cool people know you can wear the plastic bag as a glove and, once you’ve picked up the pile, quickly pull the back off your hand leaving the pile inside the bag.

Here’s a picture we took while on a recent trip with friends.

The lady on the left isn’t yet holding any bag at all. She looks like she’s a politically correct kinda gal, so we’re assuming she’s got plastic bags at the ready stuffed in her pockets. And the man on the left has already cleaned up a sizable sum from his canine companion, as evidenced by the floating spot in the center of the white grocery-style bag he’s dangling. Perhaps he keeps bags in his pockets, too.

The uber-cool way to walk your dog in style and not worry about having something at the ready to snatch up the poop is a product sent to us for review by the nice folks at The Bramton Company, makers of Bags on Board^®.

Pictured here on the right in its packaging, Bags on Board is a compact, refillable little plastic dispenser that attaches easily to any type of leash. It contains an entire roll of pick-up bags designed to easily do your duty and dispose of your pet’s poop. Ever so quick, clean, and best of all easy. You can stop and visit with friends and not worry about your bags falling out of your pockets or blowing away in the breeze. The sturdy design makes for a dependable, yet stylish, tool.

Of course, you’ll have to purchase refills, but they’re quite reasonably priced. You get 120 bags for about $8.99. For us, the convenience will outweigh the price. That’s lots of doodie duties for the money. And you can grab a $1 off coupon here.

We found the handy Bags on Board worked quite well on the leash and was easy to tie and dispose of once used. That’s our friends dog, Crimson, one super-cool pooch, bag on board, and ready to go for her walk . . . ya gotta love it!

Oh, and what should you DO with the doggie doodie?
Most of us toss it in the trash, but according to TappWater.org, tossing it in the trash is the 2nd choice, since “waste that ends up in a landfill may still cause pollution problems” and “putting animal waste in the trash is actually against the law in some communities.” So what’s the best choice? Flushing it down the toilet so the septic or sewage system will treat it just like it treats human waste.