# What's up with the bags of dog crap left in the parks? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653 "2009-12-02T02:15:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/1 "2009-12-02T02:15:11Z")
When I go walking, I often (more and more) see bags of dog waste left in the park/green space/off leash area. Someone has gone to the trouble to put their dog’s crap in a bag, and then just left the bag lying there. Is there some new movement (heh) in the dog owner world that I’m not aware of, that makes leaving your dog crap in a bag better than just leaving your dog crap lying there, _au naturel_? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/2 "2009-12-02T03:23:08Z")
That’s weird. Is it near a trash can or anything? I’d imagine you just have one clueless owner - it may seem like a bunch of people, but add a bag a day, and it’ll add up. As for me, I’ve accidentally left a bag or two around. If Dog #1 is pooping after Dog #2 has, I’ll drop the first bag to deal with the new poop. If there’s a distraction or something (squirrel!) I may have accidentally left it behind. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/3 "2009-12-02T04:00:30Z")
My guess is someone bagged the crap and then put it on the ground to continue playing with their dog and then forgot to throw the crap away. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/4 "2009-12-02T04:10:07Z")
Some people are just jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/5 "2009-12-02T04:19:53Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > My guess is someone bagged the crap and then put it on the ground to continue playing with their dog and then forgot to throw the crap away. That sounds plausible. I’ve done this myself, but I’ve always remembered to pick it up again. I can tell you from experience that the bagging part is a lot more of a pain than the throwing in the trash part, so if you do the former you aren’t likely to skip the latter out of assholery. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/6 "2009-12-02T04:49:37Z")
I’ve seen multiple bags in at least three different places now - I don’t think it’s just one person forgetting accidentally. I thought maybe dog owners were using biodegrable bags that they thought they should just leave on the ground or something. ---
**Author:** ![silk1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@silk1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silk1976)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/7 "2009-12-02T05:04:02Z")
In my experience, bags that are left around one day are not there the next day. Dogs often go poo quickly once let out to run around - so chances are the owner bagged up the poo, and simply left it to be picked up on the return trip so they dont have to walk around for an hour with it dangling in their hand. I do this all the time - dog goes poo within 50 ft of the dog park, I bag it up, put it next to a tree, and pick it up an hour later when I pass by that spot again. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/8 "2009-12-02T06:02:45Z")
It’s social commentary regarding the lack of refuse containers in the park. I almost said that with a straight face… While there may be too few garbage cans around, it’s pretty much laziness. I see it on a short trail I walk my dogs on. My wife and I decided to bring an extra bag with us and pick them up if we see any. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/9 "2009-12-02T14:14:36Z")
People are feeding their dogs plastic bags, so that the crap comes out pre-wrapped. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/10 "2009-12-02T14:23:56Z")
When I run I stop and bag my dog’s poop and then leave it until I finish my run. (Who wants to run carrying a bag of dog poop?) So far I haven’t forgotten to pick it up on the way back, but I suppose it is possible. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/11 "2009-12-02T14:28:38Z")
Well, speaking as a guy who has more than once stuck his hand into a jacket pocket only to find a filled bag he forgot to dispose of during the last walk . . . I try to be generous and suppose forgetfulness rather than jerkitude. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/12 "2009-12-02T14:29:06Z")
I gotta go with the people are jerks theory. I carry mine (bags o poop) around until I find a place to dispose of it. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/13 "2009-12-02T15:13:41Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > I gotta go with the people are jerks theory. I carry mine (bags o poop) around until I find a place to dispose of it. But if they were jerks, wouldn’t they just not bother using bags at all, and let the dog poop wherever it wants? I vote for forgetfulness. Although I always thought the same thing Cat Whisperer said— it’s interesting that the dog’s owner was so conscientious and thoughtful as to collect the dog’s waste, but then somehow fails to take the bag to a trash barrel. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/14 "2009-12-02T15:33:06Z")
They “forget” to come back and pick it up, because, like in every other area of their lives, some one eventually will! Although I suppose it’s easier for the park staff to clean up bagged poop than poop “au natural”. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/15 "2009-12-02T15:37:17Z")
Step 1) Collect bags of poo Step 2) Design gun that shoots bags of poo Step 3) Hide in bushes at park w/gun and wait for poo leaving culprits ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/16 "2009-12-02T15:40:26Z")
I often wear pretty heavy gloves while walking my dog in the wintertime. I’ve returned home several times and discovered that the bag that I thought I had in my hand is no longer there – I just didn’t notice that I’d inadvertantly dropped it sometime during the walk, and didn’t “feel” it dropping because of my gloved hand. Because the dog and I usually walk the same route, on the next day I’ve found the bag where I dropped it. I’m in the “forgot it or will return for it soon” camp – if someone has gone to the trouble of picking up after their dog, they’re not likely the sort to just leave it lying around. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/17 "2009-12-02T15:44:23Z")
Are there overflowing garbage cans around? A park I used to frequent got a lot of dog owners and not too many hard-working sanitation workers, so you’d often have those things piled high. But they were the only ones around, so most people did the balancing act. You’d see a few scattered around the ground, and then they’d still be there once the things were actually emptied. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/18 "2009-12-02T15:54:12Z")
> [@silk1976](#): > > In my experience, bags that are left around one day are not there the next day. Dogs often go poo quickly once let out to run around - so chances are the owner bagged up the poo, and simply left it to be picked up on the return trip so they dont have to walk around for an hour with it dangling in their hand. > I do this all the time - dog goes poo within 50 ft of the dog park, I bag it up, put it next to a tree, and pick it up an hour later when I pass by that spot again. I do this as well. The park I most often take my dog to has one garbage container at the entrance, so when we head out for an hour and they poop 200 feet past the garbage, and I’m not heading back yet, I leave it by a tree and pick it up on my way back. However, in some dog park I frequent, I see the same bag sitting there for days and days. I’d rather they just leave the poop unbagged so it eventually disintegrates rather then sitting in a bag for a millenia. I think that’s just laziness or forgetfulness. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/19 "2009-12-02T15:56:30Z")
I’ve done it. Why? 1. No refuse containers nearby. You carry your bag of crap for a half mile without seeing a trashcan, and eventually say “screw it.” 2. One of my dogs occasionally doesn’t leave one big pile, but rather several small dookies in scattered locations. After bagging and throwing away four or five poops, after so many I get frustrated, say “screw it”, and leave the bag where he pooped rather than going out of my way _again_ to the trash can. 3. Two simultaneously pooping dogs, and I forget to take the bag with me as I’m running over to find the poop of Dog B after cleaning up Dog A … who, in some cases, is the one that scattercraps as described in reason #2. 4. Getting ready to leave the park. The sole trash container is located in the middle of the park. Dog poops just as I leave. Rather than head back, I’ll drop off the bag … usually only if I’m tired, frustrated, and otherwise been chasing poops for the past hour or so. 5. Bag and rait to return to the poop. I also use gas-powered leaf blowers, I’ve talked on a cell phone in public, and I’m not a Lord of the Rings fanatic. Sue me. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653/20 "2009-12-02T16:01:24Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > I’ve done it. Why? > > 1. No refuse containers nearby. You carry your bag of crap for a half mile without seeing a trashcan, and eventually say “screw it.” > > 2. One of my dogs occasionally doesn’t leave one big pile, but rather several small dookies in scattered locations. After bagging and throwing away four or five poops, after so many I get frustrated, say “screw it”, and leave the bag where he pooped rather than going out of my way _again_ to the trash can. > > 3. Two simultaneously pooping dogs, and I forget to take the bag with me as I’m running over to find the poop of Dog B after cleaning up Dog A … who, in some cases, is the one that scattercraps as described in reason #2. > > 4. Getting ready to leave the park. The sole trash container is located in the middle of the park. Dog poops just as I leave. Rather than head back, I’ll drop off the bag … usually only if I’m tired, frustrated, and otherwise been chasing poops for the past hour or so. > > I also use gas-powered leaf blowers, I’ve talked on a cell phone in public, and I’m not a Lord of the Rings fanatic. Sue me. Why do you bag it though? Why not just leave it to decompose? It could just be my area - we don’t really have people who clean up the dog parks, so if there are bags left lying around, they are there until another dog walker picks it up usually, if anyone ever does. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-of-dog-crap-left-in-the-parks/519653.md?page=2)