Pretty catchy title, huh? It makes me laugh just thinking about it! This spring, I became the proud owner of my first dog—a lovable Australian Shepherd-Pitbull mix. Along with all the joy of dog ownership, I’ve also inherited the “perks” that come with it: ear cleaning, teeth brushing, daily walks, and best of all, poop scooping! You might think it’s not so bad, but let me tell you—it is. It really is!
According to Juno Veterinary, the average medium-sized dog poops between one and five times a day, each time producing around 0.5 pounds of waste (True, 2022). Now, I could crunch the numbers, but honestly, it’s scary, so I’ll spare you. Let’s just say, it’s a lot! On our walks, my dog does her business at least three times, and each stop feels like a solid pound. And yes, I notice—when you have to stop, bend, bag it up, and scramble for a garbage can, it’s hard not to pay attention.
All this got me curious, so I dove into the world of dog poop research. Turns out, there’s a surprising amount of information out there, which goes to show how many people love their dogs and are committed to the less-than-glamorous tasks that come with them. Then a little more walking and thinking, this whole ordeal also reminded me of a conversation from years ago about…cow farts! One of my kids came home with an astounding fact from school: cows, as it turns out, produce a lot of methane, which contributes to global warming. Her teacher had been explaining ways to help the planet, and as often happens with fifth graders, the talk drifted to farts—cow farts, specifically.
Here’s the crazy fact that stuck with me: an average cow releases between 30 to 50 gallons of methane gas per day (ArcGIS). That’s a shocking amount! If you check out methane emissions on a global map, you’ll see just how big an impact these emissions have on our planet. It’s pretty mind-blowing and something I find myself contemplating now as I walk my dog and pick up after her!
And since we’re on the topic of poop (dog or otherwise), here’s one more story that might make you smile. For those who don’t know, turning 50 comes with a few rites of passage—one being the poop test. Officially called the fecal immunochemical test or FIT test, it’s a screening for colorectal cancer.
Without getting too detailed, let’s just say the day of my FIT test was a day to remember. It was a beautiful day, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone, I decided I would take my dog for a walk and drop off my sample at the hospital at the same time. Just crushing the chore list. I had everything packed and ready to go and off I went. But wouldn’t you know it, on the walk to the hospital, my dog had to stop to poop, and, of course, there was no garbage can nearby. I mean, I looked and looked and walked and walked. It seemed like not a can for miles!
So, are you seeing where this is going? Yup. I ended up with two poop bags—one hers, one mine. Let’s just say I’ve never felt more “bonded” with my dog than at that moment, carrying both bags as we made our way to the hospital. Uh, good times in a small town.
So, whether it’s my daily “poop patrol” or contemplating cow emissions, I’ve learned two things: life with pets is full of odd but memorable moments, and sometimes even the gross stuff can remind us of the bigger picture. Here’s to all the pet owners who laugh at the craziness and keep showing up for their animals, no matter what!
References
(n.d.). ArcGIS online. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=8abf1496e2684e17b3981bf96ea74a6d
True, C. (2022, June 30). A Guide to Healthy Dog Poop. Healthy Paws. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from
The ultimate guide to dog poop: What’s healthy and what’s not. (n.d.). Juno Veterinary. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from
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