The Sioux Falls Neighborhood Case of “Poo-Dunit”

My wife and I like taking strolls through our central Sioux Falls neighborhood. Fresh air, a little exercise, some good conversation, and, without fail, a surprise game of "Dodge the Dog Doo." It’s practically an unwanted sport at this point.

Now, don’t get me wrong, we have a dog, we get it. Picking up poo isn’t glamorous. There’s no way to look suave while wielding a plastic bag like a makeshift glove and performing the dreaded squat and scoop maneuver. But hey, we realize it’s part of the deal when we signed up for dog parenthood.

Turns out, we’re not the only ones noticing these landmines. A quick scroll through our neighborhood's NextDoor app reveals a plethora of frustrated homeowners begging dog owners to keep their pups’ personal business off their lawns. And honestly, I get it, if I spent hours perfecting my grass to look like a Sioux Falls Country Club fairway, I wouldn’t want it decorated with unsolicited "gifts" either.

But here’s the twist; apparently, even those who do pick up after their dogs can still ruffle some feathers. One homeowner pleaded for dog walkers to stop using their personal trash bins as a poo depository. Now, if the bin is already at the curb, waiting for garbage day, I say it's fair game. But if someone is marching up a private driveway like they're on a covert mission to dump doggie contraband in a can on the side of the house? Yeah, that’s a little much.

And let’s not forget the health hazard factor. Dog poo isn’t just gross and smelly, it’s basically a petri dish of bacteria and parasites. One heartbreaking post even recounted a dog falling seriously ill, and ultimately passing away, after ingesting abandoned poo in a yard. So aside from just being rude, leaving dog droppings around can actually be dangerous to other pets.

What's the point of this rant? If you have a dog, please be responsible. Pick up after them. Dispose of it properly. And for the love of all things green and grassy, let’s not turn our neighborhoods into a minefield.