Dear Urban Diplomat: is it OK to dump dog waste in neighbours’ green bins?
Dear Urban Diplomat,
We keep our green bin on the front porch, and a dog walker has taken to depositing his pooch’s freshly scooped poop in it. This is particularly annoying when it happens on a Tuesday, just after compost pickup, because the vile excrement sits there, festering, for a week. This is poor pet-iquette, right? Should I confront him?
—Shit disturbed,
RIVERDALE
Allow me to briefly take the side of your nemesis. Anyone who owns a dog in the city understands the burning urge to ditch the doo-doo as quickly as possible, especially if you’re using one of those virtuous biodegradable bags that threatens to disintegrate in your hand before the walk is over. Yet my empathy ends when the dog walker in question crosses your property line, mounts your front steps and makes you the keeper of the poo without your consent. However minor, trespassing is absolutely bad form, and you’re right to feel ever so slightly violated (like a 0.5 out of 10 on the violation scale).
The walk-by doodle drop is acceptable only when the bin is out on the curb before pickup, and removal is imminent. If the bin is lingering out on the sidewalk, post-pickup, the polite dog walker will consider the season: winter, green light (poopsicles don’t smell); summer, glaring red light (must I spell this out?).
If the dog walker violates this unspoken code, you’re authorized to confront him. But tread carefully: that steaming bag could double as a makeshift grenade in a pinch. If you’re not the confrontational type, try moving your bin to the backyard or tricking it out with locks. Either that, or embrace your role as the neighbourhood micro-dump: better the poop putrefy in your bin than on the soles of your shoes.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com
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Dear Urban Diplomat,
We keep our green bin on the front porch, and a dog walker has taken to depositing his pooch’s freshly scooped poop in it. This is particularly annoying when it happens on a Tuesday, just after compost pickup, because the vile excrement sits there, festering, for a week. This is poor pet-iquette, right? Should I confront him?
—Shit disturbed,
RIVERDALE
Allow me to briefly take the side of your nemesis. Anyone who owns a dog in the city understands the burning urge to ditch the doo-doo as quickly as possible, especially if you’re using one of those virtuous biodegradable bags that threatens to disintegrate in your hand before the walk is over. Yet my empathy ends when the dog walker in question crosses your property line, mounts your front steps and makes you the keeper of the poo without your consent. However minor, trespassing is absolutely bad form, and you’re right to feel ever so slightly violated (like a 0.5 out of 10 on the violation scale).
The walk-by doodle drop is acceptable only when the bin is out on the curb before pickup, and removal is imminent. If the bin is lingering out on the sidewalk, post-pickup, the polite dog walker will consider the season: winter, green light (poopsicles don’t smell); summer, glaring red light (must I spell this out?).
If the dog walker violates this unspoken code, you’re authorized to confront him. But tread carefully: that steaming bag could double as a makeshift grenade in a pinch. If you’re not the confrontational type, try moving your bin to the backyard or tricking it out with locks. Either that, or embrace your role as the neighbourhood micro-dump: better the poop putrefy in your bin than on the soles of your shoes.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com){kind=link}
I don’t have a dog but i think waste is a waste why couldn’t people put their waste in my bins that is sitting on the curb. That is what the bin is for “waste”. This reminds me of the episode of “curb your enthusiasm” when he put the garbage from what he was eating in neighbour’s bin and the neighbour was making a fuss over the fact that is my garbage not yours.
There is a difference between decomposing food and feces. My 8 year old daughter has a medical condition partially aggravated by what she has injested. My neighbour insisted their dog could use my front lawn as a dog toilet and park for months- it’s rude. I would try to help my neighbour if they needed it- but people need to understand you may have to draw the line at being “neighbourly”– for good reason.
What the F – – -?!?!?! Keep your dog s- – – out of my green bin. This is nonsense. Doesn’t matter when it is – don’t put your trash in my garbage.
You assume that the offender is using a biodegradable bag. Worse yet is the offender who just drops their bag(s) at the bottom of your driveway on their way by. Now that’s rude!
Excellent advice! As a dog owner that is exactly the policy I follow. If the green bins are on the curb and its garbage day, I may deposit my poop bag but otherwise I hold on to it and wait for the nearest city garbage or wait till I’m home. I don’t think its reasonable to put my poop in a neighbour’s green bin and let it sit until the next garbage day…its not their dog, why should they have to house the poop!
Let me guess, the “Urban Diplomat” is a dog owner. Here’s a thought, how about dog owners not only pick up their dog’s s— but also take it to their own home to deposit it in their own garbage?
Is it ok for a RV owner to empty their septic tank into your green bin? Only if the bin is out on the curb and it’s garbage day.
No Way- Wow, what a stupid comparison.
Let’s guess – do we think AJ owns a dog?
Okay, it’s not whether I own a dog or not. If the garbage can is sitting on the curb, waiting for it’s imminent pickup, then how it is harming you in any way, shape or form if someone puts their dog’s waste in it? I could definitely understand if garbage pick-up is a few days away, because that’s both rude and lazy, but come on! Lighten up people, it’s not a big deal. There are more serious things in life that we should be worried about.
AJ, it’s not up to you to decide whether its a big deal or not. My green bin is mine. I don’t want anyone else’s garbage in it – especially when that garbage is dog s—! Take it home with you and put it in your garbage.
No one should be going up to your front porch to dump their dog poop in your bin. That is just plain rude. I understand if it’s garbage day and the bin is at the curb (before pick up not when pick up has been done), even then dump it in your own bin. That is just plAin common sense.
Odour/leaks from dog poop (or any other composting material)can linger in the green bin even when it’s there for only a short time. Not pleasant for those of us who keep bin inside the house. It’s just common courtesy to put your own waste in your own bin (unless you have permission to use someone else’s.)
when my kids were younger and we went to the park, their diapers went in a plastic bag for me to take home to my garbage. i wouldn’t impose my (somewhat) toxic waste on someone else’s green bin and perhaps have it leak into said bin. they are the ones rinsing it out, not me. your poop, your problem, not mine.