The Poodle (and Dog) Blog

"Dog poop for free speech" lady found not guilty

A six person jury in Greeley, Colorado has found Kathleen Ensz, a retired French professor, not guilty of a charge of criminal use of a noxious substance. I’ve been following this “terribly important” Free Speech case since I wrote a post in January.

Ensz, 64, left her dog’s poop wrapped in a political mailer at the office of U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave last May (2006). Unfortunately (and stupidly) she left part of her address on the poopy mailer so police were able to find and charge her.

During the two day court case, Ensz testified that she had repeatedly asked that no more mailers be sent to her and she “just snapped” when she saw yet another one. So she picked up her dog’s poop with the mailer and dropped it off at Musgrave’s office.

“It was purely and simply to express my opinion,” she said. "I am sorry I did what I did, and I won't do it again."

Imagine after a long teaching career to be known across the country for the rest of your life as the "dog poop lady."

Her attorney agreed that she had violated a “civilized norm” but her intent was “to send a symbolic message.”

Patricia Bangert, one of her attorneys said that they are considering filing a civil suit against the county or Representative Musgrave for inappropriately charging Ensz.

Oh, people, LET IT GO.

The story

Of Dogs and Beaches

News item: On the popular tourist Island of Cyprus on the Mediterranean, authorities are looking for suitable beaches where people can bring their dogs without interfering with the enjoyment of other beachgoers.

Dogs love to run along the beach. Owners love to take them. There was a time not long ago when dogs and people could run free along the sand.

The dog population grew. Some people didn’t take the responsibility for them. And so today the world’s beaches usually prohibit dogs or confine them to only a small stretch. These stretches quickly become foul smelling and strewn with minefields.

If people would clean up after their dogs, there would never be a problem sharing the sand.

But as my daughter says: “I’m sorry, this is the Age of Poop Everywhere. You want the Age of Personal Responsibility. Down the hall, third door on your left!”

I don’t know where she gets her sarcasm.

"Poop wins"

Somehow—and I don’t know exactly how—I found myself in an online competition with some Northern California bloggers last week.

It wasn’t a post about a remarkable dog or even a lucky dog. It was the one about whether dog poop should be protected as free speech when a constituent sends it to her congresswoman.

It was selected to run as one of five blog posts in Sunday’s Sacramento Bee under “The Blog Watch.”

As my daughter said in her congratulatory email: “Poop wins.”

The Dog Loo - A Backyard in a Box

So let’s say you can’t always get home to let little Fluffy out in time to doody in the backyard. Or your backyard is clean and pristine and you don’t want it spoiled. Or you are yachting and don’t want to row ashore every time nature calls Fluffy.

Here it is at last!! The Pet Loo, the dog's total indoor toilet solution, a backyard in a box. Great way to housebreak your dog.

No more being at the beck and call of your dog’s bladder, no more walks through the cold rain, no more carpet stains, no more dodging minefields through your yard.

Synthetic grass covers a surface and the urine drains in a container below. Solid waste can be easily scooped up and the urine-draining system allows the dog to keep her feet dry on the synthetic grass surface while she uses the facilities. Then you simply empty the collection jug down the toilet.

I used the feminine pronoun because I’m not sure how this works with macho male dogs that need to mark their territory as high up as possible.

Priced at $449.99
Shipping is free in Australia where the company is located.
The company, Critter Cottage, can give prices for delivery elsewhere.

Poop Scooping lawns—the business is really picking up

No longer the domain of small local businesses, the dog poop scooping business has gone franchise. One company is now operating in 14 states with expected revenue of $2.5 million this year with new locations being added steadily.

Operating under names like Doody Calls, Pet Butler, Poop ‘n Scoop, Grand Poohbah and Scoop De Doo, this is the fastest growing business in the $2.7 billion pet care industry today. About 400 businesses nationwide offer the service to homeowners.

Prices depend on the number of dogs and the size of the yard, but typically companies will charge $15 for a weekly scooping for a chore the homeowner may not want to do. For these companies business is always picking up.

More information