The Latest Scoop

The New MissPoop!

2011-04-16T11:14:00.000-04:00

It's official, MissPoop has a new owner. Stephanie Stiles, a creative gardener (professionally), a mother to three wonderful children and the wife of Paul, her perfect match, has taken over my "baby"!

I have looked high and low for the sort of person who understood the value of MissPoop's business reputation and commitment to offering the absolute best customer service in the area. Stephanie and her husband used to be my number one referral sources when I started almost ten years ago and they had a Lawn, garden and tree business. A mutual friend mentioned to them I was selling the business and they were ecstatic. I cannot think of a more perfect match and am excited for you to meet Stephanie...pictures will follow soon.

The new MissPoop will be contacting all of our (her) customers to introduce herself (and she will undoubtedly be bearing cookies) and to make sure she will understand all of your needs and concerns!

I am very grateful to all of my customers for supporting me for all these years and I am extremely please to be passing on the business to someone who cars and has the excitement to grow it even further.

Another really neat thing about Stephanie is because she understands yards and gardens and tress, she will be helping you to look at ways that will make the property more dog friendly with less chaos and wear and tear.

The old MissPoop (that would be me) will still be around to help them keep up the newsletters and blog.

Leaves, trees, wind and poop!

2010-11-30T20:00:00.000-05:00

Without exception, ok, maybe March is a bit messy too, fall is our least favorite poop scooping season. The leaves are all over the place, you can't find a thing, the lawn guys are waiting for us to clean up so they don't step in it and we are waiting for them to clean up so we don't step in it. Then there are the winds and the storms. Until I became MissPoop, I never, ever in my life worried about a tree limb falling on my head. Never!

As I pursue my faithful clients yards I wonder if I should wear a hard hat. Actually in my case, I should probably wear one anyway. If it is not falling on me, I can find a way to make it happen - ask about the icicle in the forehead incident sometime. And because my eyes are on the ground, as they should be, I am always running into tree branches.

I am still very grateful to have such a thriving business, that allows me to pursue other avenues of interest and income, so a few missteps are no big deal. But if you wonder why the bag by your garbage can looks a little light, it is not because your dog has gone on a diet. We just can't find it all right now. We will get it by Novembers' end.

I still love my job!

Happy Halloween - the week after results!

2010-11-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

One year I found a dead lizard, the whole body, while poop scooping. His head was sticking out of one end of a rather large pile (yep - poop from a golden retriever) and his tail stuck out of the other end. At first I thought it was a toy. Nope.

Well this week I found a chewed up ten dollar bill (yes I did contemplate retrieving it but it was in too many pieces and the mess was even beyond my drive to get the bill back in shape); a delicate pair of black lace panties (not nearly as pretty as the purple thing a few years ago); several leftover foil candy wrappers adding a glint in the sun as I did my job and incredibly healthy looking poop in every yard!

Many of you may not realize that I do look carefully at the product of my job. A professional pooper scooper knows that the poop can tell a lot of stories, some unfortunately are sad. I knew a few weeks before it happened that one dog was dying by the look of his stools. We can detect stress, bad diets, disease and misbehavior before you or your vet even knows. Of course we let you know right away.

Lately I have notice the quality of almost all of my clients dogs poop has been very healthy. The main reason I believe this to be the case it we as a public have become more aware of how dog food has improved and its impact on your dogs' health. So if you feel your dogs output is less and harder congratulate yourselves. You are doing a good job of feeding properly!

Now, if I could just find a winning lottery ticket out there in the yards - I would retrieve that!

If You Could...

2010-04-27T10:29:00.000-04:00

What would you do next with your life? I have had at least four careers and am embarking on adding another path. The things they have in common are that I love working for myself, and I am obviously (in spite of what my mind chatter says) not afraid of going for broke! Of course, I never expect to be broke and I have confidence that while there will be a bit of struggle, I always end up creating jobs I love and or grow into. I love expanding my skill sets, my creativity and my education...thank goodness, because the money is not always the goal!

With our economy, the political climate, the uncertainty of what will happen next clouding the air like a heavy fog, now seems to be a time when people hunkered down and hibernate. I think we should all do just the opposite!

So I invite you to share with me and others what passion you would dive into if fear of making a living were not blocking you. Just putting it out there starts to open doors...so let's all open some doors and run into each other and get the good energy rolling.

Ah yes - this is the MissPoop blog, so I must remind yo that while you are starting to explore new options watch where you step! : )

"There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other."
--Douglas Everett

MissPoop’s Thoughts on the Recession

2010-04-18T08:49:00.002-04:00

Much as I would like to pretend there is no recession, the reality is hitting us all in the face and it can be frightening—if we let it overpower us and our thoughts. I have three dependable sources for my information on how to act during this time and am unselfishly sharing them with you here. The first is a daily blog from the creator of Dilbert, Scott Adams. I have very few blogs on my RSS feed, and his is the top one. If he is not writing eloquently about the economy, then whatever else he has to say is pretty good too! You can find him at http://dilbert.com/blog

My second source is Ellen Powers Le, CFA President of Ascend Capital Management, Inc. (ellen@ascendcapmgt.com). While my last 401K was used to start another business that had a bitter end (see chapter on Business Partnerships and Embezzlement), when my current and very meager 401K is of acceptable size, Ellen is the ONLY person I would trust with my money. Highly educated, experienced and a true financial seer, Ellen is the calming voice in this bumpy storm.

My third source is Doug, who breaks down every rumor, fallacy and misguided missiles of misinformation for me. And he supports his wise words with documented facts. Did you know that during the Great Depression, people were not really jumping out windows on a daily basis. And worse, Winston Churchill and Will Rogers cracked a few jokes, which then became “facts”, and many of us grew up in fear of our financial caretakers flying out windows if it ever happened again. In actuality, there are only two recorded suicides from jumping out windows, although there may have been other ones that looked like accidental death for insurance reasons. For more cheerful information on the topic go to Wall Street Suicides By Nina Shen Rastogi
(http://www.slate.com/id/2200633/)

On the more personal and local side of things, have you, as a MissPoop customer, ever thought about the impact you have on so many people with your $60-$100 monthly fee? When I started MIssPoop, before I allowed myself a frivolous expense, like a Starbucks Mucho Macha Latte Maple Supreme Cappuccino, I would think about how much time hunting down poop this cup of coffee was costing me. It didn’t mean I would not have it, but it brought the flow of income in/income out to the forefront of my budget. Over the years as we have grown in all three areas of the business, I am ever vigilant of how each one of you impacts our bottom line. There are now three people and four dogs who are thriving members of the community because of your choice to use our services. THIS IS A VERY BIG DEAL. Not to mention the vets I use, grocery stores I shop at, dog food suppliers and all the utility services who thank you indirectly. Oh—ok, the GAP and Land’s End appreciate you too! And if not Starbucks, I know Wawa does.

I believe we will come through this time a wiser and happier nation. We may all suffer some nerve-wracking days or months, but we are a country that supported growth and independence and not one to suffer in silence and back away from doing the hard work it takes to thrive happily.

There is also a group you can join to help fight the recession which I whole heartedly highly recommend joining. (http://norecessionforme.us/)

THe difference between Miriam's idea of play and Doug's.

2009-12-19T11:36:00.001-05:00

Doug gave us permission! So say the dogs...Doug remains mum.

Hootie and fellow pooper scooper

2009-12-19T11:22:00.000-05:00

Fellow Pooper Scooper and great freind Randi, hugging Hootie after a scalping haircut. Hootie is realizing getting scalped is not so bad if it means Randi will keep hugging him.

2009-12-19T11:20:00.000-05:00

My fellow pooper scooper and good friend Randi comforting Hootie after a scalping haircut. Hootie is thinking getting scalped is worth it if it means Randi will keep hugging him.

My Guys on a Rock

2009-12-19T11:17:00.000-05:00

Just enjoying a February day. Remembering we did not have much snow at all last winter!

Holiday Food and Your Dog

2009-12-16T23:45:00.003-05:00

After every holiday the importance of being a pooper scooper is magnified. Sadly, it is not rare enough that some family dogs die a tragic death from overeating or eating the wrong things. I can pretty much tell you who fed their dogs turkey and sweet potatoes that week. Yards that are normally a breeze to clean up start taking two and three times as long. The poor dogs are suffering GI distress all week! Don't let those big eyes fool you, they do not need too much extra food. A few bits of turkey and rice will be fine, but lay off the skin, the gravies, the candied yams and all desserts! Gee, it sounds like my diet.

The really scary stuff we find in our customers yards has been tons of tinsel, long stream of ribbon, bits of left over teddy bear fur and a large amount of plastic, barely digested. Image that traveling through your dogs tummy.

Save yourself the grief and expense of a long night at the Veterinary ER. I have been very lucky with my dogs' digestive tracts...most of the time. The worst "accident" caused by over consumption of a drug in my house was when a squirrel came in through the opened back door and OPENED a bottle of benydryl and ate most of it.
He did not die, but he was not moving very quickly for a few days either.

So, keep those ribbons and bows tidied up, put away your socks and underwear and have a very Merry Christmas!

Do What You Love (and some of which you don't) And The Money Will Follow

2009-12-09T23:28:00.003-05:00

Remember that book? It made the rounds during the 70’s, renewed and refreshed itself in the 80’s & 90’s and is still hanging tightly to its spot on the book sellers shelves in the 21st century. I read it and thought, but you have to have money to really take the chance to do what you want. And I set the book aside – forever. Life went on, my career climbed (or stumbled) up the corporate ladder and I dreamed wistfully of when I could afford to do what I really wanted to do.
Problem was, I never knew what I wanted to do that would make me enough money to live comfortably, much less luxuriously. I love to draw, I love animals, I love being outside and I even like people a fair amount of the time. My career was based on decisions by default, being in the right place at the right time, having the right contacts and skills needed at the same time. I enjoyed parts of it, but as the years went on I realized I was bored out of my skull. I left, took all my savings and retirement and opened a business with a partner. Too long a story and old news, it no longer benefits from being rehashed, except to say it ended badly. The partner should be in jail, she’s not and I was flat out broke.
All of a sudden I had to figure out how to support the life I had created doing stuff I was good at, but not really willing to do anymore (mind numbing, soul draining boredom being a primary reason). Someone gave me a copy of Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow while I was selling my valuables on eBay to pay my real estate taxes. I sold the book on eBay without cracking the cover.
This time I decided not to look at what I wanted to do, but how I wanted to be each day of my life. Happy, healthy, kind, creative and solvent all came to mind. Suddenly, with prompting from a dear friend, the light bulb in the brain moment happened giving birth to MissPoop. And she lived happily ever after – right?
Well almost. I am solvent, cheerful, healthy, kind more often than not and creative beyond my expectations…with plans to keep growing as an artist, dog trainer and writer. MissPoop keeps me grounded and I will never give it up. MissPoop, however, was not paying all the bills the first few years.
One day, in the beginning of my new career, I was in a cell phone store getting my cell phone upgraded, and upon seeing my business card, they asked if I cleaned offices. Insulted I ran home mortified to be offered that sort of job! After all, I am now MissPoop! If I sat down and followed the guidelines of Do What You Love…I seriously doubt I would have decided to become MissPoop. However, it did meet a lot of the criteria to creating a path to a life I would enjoy.
My friend reminded me that while I was a stellar pooper scooper, I was barely able to pay my mortgage and I really ought to think twice about saying no to any job. Name a price, he said, and if it is something you can live with, do it.
Swallowing my pride I went back and offered my services for $100 per hour (after all that was what I made as an illustrator). Surprisingly they accepted my offer so I added office cleaning to MissPoop. I was embarrassed (and not about poop?), but decided to make the most of that 1-3 hours a week.
I cleaned, I organized, and I mentored young employees on better communications as I scrubbed the toilet bowls. I bought flowers and cleaned up the tiny garden in front. I used fung shui to create a warmer and more welcoming store front. I threw my heart into that job but I still hid if someone I knew came in the store.
As MissPoop grew I found I did not want to give up the cleaning job. I enjoyed the people and they liked me. I created a pretty and happy place for them to work. Eventually though, as MissPoop grew significantly and I started training dogs, I was running out of hours, even at $100 per. It was hard to give up, however a line of friends all clamored to take over my position.
I rarely mention my cleaning job. It was my dirty little secret. The current economy reminds me that I was lucky to have the opportunity to do what I loved, and a few things I didn’t, until I got on my feet again. I believe remaining positive, and a little bit humble, success will continue to follow us. Success is more than just making a living; it is creating a life worth living. Discovering what you love to do is a process, discovered in steps with willingness to have faith in yourself. And doing a “dirty” job makes the jobs you love all that more enriching. And you can do it on a bare bones budget!

Heart Breaking News at the Nature Preserves

2009-05-17T23:13:00.003-04:00

Driving into the parking area of one of my favorite places to walk my dogs, I saw a big yellow sign with red lettering say "ALL DOGS MUST BE LEASHED"! I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and wanted to cry.

Of course all dogs should be walked with a leash for safety and good citizen reasons, but it struck me that we have no where to walk dogs freely so they can enjoy letting their limbs stretch; romp with their pals and just let lose. Over the past few years many of us who frequent the nature preserves in our area have been trying to educate other dog owners that having your dog chase other people, leaving poop all over and being aggressive to other dogs is going to get us kicked out of most of the parks.

There's not too much else to say right now. I just wish that the good dogs were rewarded with more freedom. Or that I could buy my own 100 acres and have a sign that says No Humans Unless Accompanied by Well-Behaved Unleashed Dogs.

Almost Recession Proof

2009-04-28T09:37:00.003-04:00

http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2009/04/27/for-misspoop-business-is-good/

One of the points the article missed is that I have been in business for seven plus years. I actually cannot believe it has been that long and that my interest is ever growing. Years before starting MissPoop, I read all the books on finding your passion and the money will follow. I understood, but felt that you had to have good financial backing and a huge safety net before even allowing yourself the luxury of starting a business you would enjoy.

That's not true. It's not always comfortable being near the edge as I am sometimes financially, but it is a choice I made. There was no backing or safety net, just sheer desperation, tempered with the "do what you love" mantra. Only in the past few years do I breath more easily at night and don't worry over money (as much). I lost it all once or twice before, so my motivation is very strong to keep everything running efficiently and successfully.

More later - just keep in mind that hard work, motivation and a great sense of humor can take you a long way. If you are not laughing on the way to the bank, at least you're laughing.

I'm Not a Vegetarian....However

2009-04-26T08:58:00.007-04:00

Did you know that 2600 gallons of fuel a year are saved by reducing one serving of meat per week per person. After reading these links and seeing the good we could do by reducing our meat consumption, it does make one pause and consider the option. For a real insight on the waste, read the second article to get a better feel on how all animal waste impacts our world. The bottom line is we must find good ways to recycle all waste.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2008/04/14/one_less_burger_one_safer_planet/

http://uwveg.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?page=env

There is a Lot of Money in Poop...

2009-04-26T07:38:00.005-04:00

One of these days I will be very, very rich. Once I find the right market for dog poop.

The green business of pig poop. Pig farmers in Sweden are trialing a new network to sell the combustible gasses emitted by their fertilizer, raising cash and helping the environment.

http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=101475

Have You Fallen Head Over Heals Because of Your Dog?

2009-04-25T19:22:00.002-04:00

While generally this is a behavior I encourage, the following article talks about the perils of falling over your dog. I stepped backwards last week to take a better look at a masterpiece in process and tripped over Sacha, my 100LB Golden Retriever. I grabbed his hair and was able to soften the blow - for me. He was crushed, but lived!

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/03/27/cdc-to-americans-dont-trip-over-your-dog/

Has Your House Gone To The Dogs?

2009-04-25T19:14:00.002-04:00

I remember the days, long before I became MissPoop, I wore Laura Ashley, had friends to tea and my house was perfect. I had one dog, a fairly absent, soon to be former, husband and a pretty busy corporate career, so actually keeping the house clean and company ready was never a problem. My living room was pink and green and reminded me of a library where you could read Jane Austen and Emily Bronte. My dining room was gentile and simple and suited my china very well. Quiet was broken hourly by our grandfather clock - the one we bought as a wedding present to signify the timelessness of our wedded bliss (hmm). Occasionally the dog, Ben, would bark, but he was so sweet that we welcomed any behavior, good or bad, on his part. As long as he wiped his feet before entering the house.

Then things changed. The white, off-white and cream walls went to orange, rust, odd pine green and sun burnt yellow. Even the ceilings have colors and the second level of the house is primarily primary colors. The third floor master bedroom is a sanctuary in tropical blue and butter yellow with white trim. I don’t think, with the exception of the laundry room, that there is a white wall in the house. Bathrooms are a variety of greens, and one guest room is such an awful putty color you need to wallow in grief and despair. Rooms no longer kept their meaning. The living room became my studio, the downstairs family room became the winter dog/human dungeon and the awesome back family room that looked out to the woods became a passage way for our ever growing dog family and canine friends that run in and out over and over again.

I was not happy with the way things started to look, however, I could not be neurotic about how my house looks when I have too much else to do that I love. If I tried to wipe every muddy paw that entered my doors, I would be wiping till the day I die. My favorite decorating accessories are now Overstock.com deals, things you could throw on top of something else to hide dirt, dog hair or worn out furniture. I started going to the library to read and eat in the car – ok – it wasn’t that bad! I realized I love where I live and my house is fine, I just didn’t enjoy being in most of the rooms anymore.

At a business meeting I overheard some women talking about having their houses “restaged” for no other reason than to freshen it up while not breaking the bank. Staging is done for selling houses, but to make what you have seem new and exciting? And what is “not breaking the bank”? After hearing more people talk about having their houses done by a woman they all adored, I had to call and find out if she could make my house a home once again.

We are still in the process, painting yet to be done, but I feel as if I moved into a new, yet familiar home. Without buying one thing so far, we have rearranged art that I can actually see to appreciate, moved furniture out of rooms and into other rooms, giving the rooms and furniture new life, and the flow is gracefully and airy. I cannot explain in this short space how excited I am. Even the dogs seem to appreciate the new arrangements and actually sit on the floors more often than not. And even with more sessions with Joanna, the bank is not close to being broken. The best part is that Joanna is also a dog owner so she understands the importance of having a home where dogs and men can also feel welcomed.

I probably won’t go back to hosting tea parties, but I now enjoy inviting people over again. If you even have the slightest interest in redoing your home, give Joanna a call before anything else. Joanna Elfering is an interior designer by trade and has done some wonderful home designs, but what I love best is how she saved my house from the dogs and the dogs from me! Joanna Elfering – Finest Home Staging and Interior Design – can be reached at 610-220-6880 or Joanna@elfering.com

What Do I and American Craft Have in Common?

2009-04-17T10:46:00.006-04:00

Taking a break from poop scooping in the pouring rain, I stopped in at Barnes and Noble to read art magazines. The latest issue of American Craft has an interesting article on toilets designed by Virginia Gardiner, who uses horse manure. http://www.americancraftmag.org/article.php?id=7286

The title of the article In Praise of Poop is misleading because it is not poop that Gardiner utilizes, it is horse manure. The difference is important to understand because human feces, much like dog feces, contains bacteria that is harmful to both the environment and to other humans and dogs. As carnivores, we produce a different quality of excrement than horses, who live primarily on hay, carrots, apples and a few Milky Ways on occasion.

As an artist I understand Gardiner's interest in utilizing one medium to create another medium that may have both a social and environmental statement. More interesting is her desire to create waterless toilets that can be used in underprivileged countries as a solution. See her link on that problem: http://excrextra.com/

If there were a way we could develop a cost effective and sanitary manner to reuse dog feces, we (the team who creates the solution) would be very wealthy. Anyone out there with ideas, let me know. I have been studying waste management in pursuit of a realistic and safe solution, but not as art. I think I will stick with pastels.

Dog Manners

2009-04-10T10:47:00.005-04:00

My pack and I love to hike off-leash. We are fortunate that there are several areas near me where we can do that. However we do have to share those areas with non-dog people and good manners on all of our behalves is called for. I walk with some friends, but others we have started to avoid as their dog is so poorly behaved in "meet and greet" that she is causing us to hear complaints all the time.

Good manners are taught with patience and awareness. Picking up your dogs' poop is part of the same protocol.

I recently came across an awesome video created for the Boulder, Colorado Parks and Recreation Services. Not only does it show what good behavior looks like, but it illustrates very effectively behavior that causes the non-dog citizens to resent dogs, dog owners and dog walkers. These people have the right, much as we do, to walk in a park unmolested by our "friendly" dogs. What put me to shame was how, regardless how well behaved I think my dogs have been, is I saw myself as one of the "poorly" trained dog owners.

I vow never to be that way again! I promise! I do already pick up after myself...and quite a few others in my favorite parks, but I am guilty of saying, "Oh, don't worry, he's friendly." as my dog places his muddy paws and muzzle on some unsuspecting victim.

Watch the video and think about how you can be a better canine/human partner - remember we all represent one another! Good Manners Unite!

Read the following page and then go to the video. Let me know what you think.

http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5562&Itemid=411

Dog Art Three

2009-04-10T10:36:00.003-04:00

Aside from Spunky, here are few other fellow poop producers immortalized by me!

Dog Art (?) Two

2009-04-10T10:15:00.007-04:00

Whether we like it or not, every business has its downside. The downside to being MissPoop is every Christmas I get at least two of these calendars as gifts. The photographs, for the most part are wonderful. The subject matter, while the core of my business, just doesn't sit well on my walls. I like it best picked up, wrapped in a colorful, season appropriate bag, nestled next to a garbage can!

http://www.wonderfullywacky.com/monthlydoos-calendar.htm

Dog Art One

2009-04-10T09:58:00.009-04:00

In addition to my quest to rid the area yards of canine waste laden with bacteria and disease, I am also an artist and a wanna-be writer. I recently came across a blog called One Dog A Day Painting and I am blown away with the quality and creativity of the artist. Take a look. She also has a book and maybe, if enough of you contact the artist and tell her I sent you her way, she might give me a discount!

http://paintingadogaday.blogspot.com/

http://www.blurb.com/books/515826

In the meanwhile, I encourage all of you to encourage me to keep up my dog drawing and pastels. Who knows, I might randomly gift you with a creation of my own! The drawing here is one of my first ever in pastel, done a few years ago, of my adorable, now 11 year old rescue, Spunky.

Partners in Canine Services We Recommend

2009-03-29T11:27:00.004-04:00

One of the things I like about being MissPoop is that I meet some pretty like minded business owners. Even my competitors are considered part of my success, and hopefully I contribute to their success. We give each other referrals, but only after really getting a good understanding of one another's working practices and styles. All of us in the pet industry have one common goal which is to make your life with your animals as enjoyable and safe as possible. So here is the list of a few of the people I love to refer:

Pet Stop Pet Fence Systems www.papet fences.com/610-469-2733

Braxton’s Animal Works www.braxtons.com/610-688-0769

MissBehave Dog Training www.MissBehavedogtraining.com/610-389-0058

GiggyBites Bakery & Marketplace www.giggybites.com

Bark*Meow*Etc. Gifts, treats and canine art Lancaster Farmers Market in Wayne PA

Dr. Rose's Remedies Skin Treatment Salve www.drrosesremedies.com

Doug Gelbert, Best Places to Take Your Dog www.hikewithyourdog.com

Heart's Content Animal Communications - E DuCoeur www.heartscontent.net

Dogma Premier Spa and Rehabilation Center www.dogmadogspa.com

Pat in Grooming at PetSmart in Devon - 610-644-3676

Stacy Morgan - photographer canine and landscapes www.staymor.com

We believe our hand selected Partners share the same dedication in providing Excellent Customer Service as well as the dedication to care, love and improve the lives of dogs and cats as much as we do.

Let us know if you have any favorites! Also, give us feedback so we can let out partners know; both good or not so great...our goal is to please each of you and keep your business!

Experience The World's Most Spectacular Stain And Odor Eliminator!

2009-03-29T10:32:00.003-04:00

Normally I would not be such a blatant, biased advertiser of a product, but this one is truly amazing. I found this product at a trade show and was drawn in by the demonstration that was nothing but magical. I wanted to buy cases right away but restrained myself and just bought two bottles. That night one of my dogs had diarrhea and for the first time ever I faced the clean up with joy, anticipation and a sense of adventure. The product really worked! Sadly, I get to use it a lot. Happily, I no longer mutter madly under my breath, I just clean it up and no trace of the mishap is evident.

Contact these folks and stock up! http://juststainsandodors.com/

JUST STAINS & ODORS® is a ready to use, one step, stain and odor eliminator that is non-toxic, biodegradable, and completely environmentally friendly. JUST STAINS & ODORS® does not contain any harmful solvents or enzymes.....it works by performing an instant mechanical breakdown of the full spectrum of stains and odors, and as a result, is completely safe to use around children, pets, and plants.

Extreme Sheep Herding

2009-03-24T22:05:00.002-04:00

Dog training at it's most creative! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw&NR=1

You Can Save Your Yard!

2009-03-24T20:14:00.004-04:00

People are always asking me how to keep dogs from going in certain spots in their yards so they can keep them somewhat green. There are hundreds of products out there, but none seem to do the job we really want. Today, while I was poop scooping a yard with three wonderful and poop-prolific Golden Retriever's, their owner came out to chat. I happened to mention how I was surprised that over the past several months her dogs had totally shifted from eliminating on the beautiful hill right off the patio, next to the pool, to further off in the yard. It has made my job a bit easier because they now have three areas they frequent, in stead of the whole yard. My client said that she was told to sprinkle bits of kibble in areas where she did not want the dogs to go to the bathroom. The theory behind this great tidbit is that the dogs will not poo or pee in the same area that they eat! And it works!

So, if you have an area you really want to keep poop free, just sprinkle a little kibble each time they go out in that area. They will "hunt" happily for the treats and then go elsewhere to poop.

I wish I could take credit for this great bit of advice, but alas I can only generously pass it on to you. Good luck and let me know when it starts to work for you.

Another good reason to hire a pooper scooper - we keep you informed and share the wealth of knowledge!

Why Picking Up Poo Is So Important

2009-03-16T22:44:00.003-04:00

I cringe every time someone tells me that they just throw the dog feces in the back of the yard or let the rain do its' job - heck it's just fertilizer. Tell me, would you roll around on the grass you just used as your own bathroom? One of the main reasons that dog feces (like human feces) is full of bacteria is because we are all carnivores. If we just ate like cows or horses that would be different.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a single gram of dog feces can contain as many as 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which can cause serious kidney disorders and intestinal illness in humans. And since dog feces doesn’t absorb into the ground like cow manure does, the danger doesn’t end when the feces gets picked up. The Centers for Disease Control says that the eggs of certain parasites and roundworms found in dog feces can remain in the soil for years.

That means that by simply stepping on grass that previously held infected feces, you and your dog risk coming into contact with those eggs. Scoop your dog’s feces as quickly and thoroughly as possible to help reduce his contribution to dog park germs. Keep a couple of plastic bags in your pocket for this purpose—better to have too many than too few. Ensure your dog never misses a checkup and is current on his vaccinations.

Ever Try To Hire A Pooper Scooper Employee

2009-03-15T10:01:00.002-04:00

I feel very fortunate to have found a niche market that continues to thrive and in my enthusiasm, I like to encourage other people to find their niche and go for it. My belief and experience is that if you are truly committed to your life, your happiness, your mental health and the right to be happy and content, you CAN do it. Nike hit the nail on the head with their slogan "JUST DO IT."

I am not as successful at just doing it in some areas of my life - mostly weight - Nike would not be happy with me. But considering several life set backs, I am pretty happy with the flow and direction I am going towards. Keeping a balance is my constant challenge.

Part of keeping a balance means to either hire more people as the business grows or cut back in areas that are successful but draining, and continue to focus on the core points of success and satisfaction. I am at that point right now. And I trust and believe others really want the same for themselves.

I have two great people who work with MissPoop, but we need at least one more back up and another committed, responsible employee. So I go through my list of my friends who say they want and need jobs. These are all college educated graduates, some who have avoided "real" work most of their adult lives. Got to love a government who supports that kind of behavior and trust me it didn't start with the democrats.

Welfare is one topic and I am not addressing that. I am addressing the "copper handcuffs" of disability pay. I have a family member who has been supported by the government his whole adult life due to an accident involving a state highway, a motorcycle, a cliff, alcohol and drugs. The guy can work, but why bother when the state is willing to support his house boat and bonsai tree obsession.

In my pursuit to hire people I have learned two things - they don't really want to work and if they do they want it to be easy; done only when and if they feel like it. Time commitments are non-existent. Heck, commitment and responsibility are non-existent.

Like I said, I do have two great people working with me and I can't help to believe others like them might exist. I also know a lot of people who are truly disabled and they go to work every day. When did I become such a hard nose, no nonsense, get off your behind and get moving kind of person? Maybe when I was 10 and filling in the colors for university geology student maps at $5 per map.

A Celebrity Meet Up on a Quiet Tuesday Morning

2009-03-11T11:17:00.002-04:00

During one of my usual bathroom stops on my poop scoop route, I was browsing through the burst of color at Waterloo Gardens (http://www.waterloogardens.com/) when I was stopped by a good looking gentleman asking where the main office was. He said he thought I looked like I owned the place...if only. Long story short (thank goodness you say), we introduced ourselves and he asked how I got into the business of being MissPoop. I mentioned that part of my past career involved being a medical illustrator and he said oh, do you know my dad's work, Frank Netter? How could I not!

In the world of poop, his name doesn't mean much. However in my past career he was like the Michangelo of medical illustrators. (http://www.netterimages.com/artist/netter.htm). And his intense interest in the human body undoubtedly contributed to my interest in canine anatomy and digestion, making my interest in canine scatological output a very normal fascination.

Jim Netter is about a close as I will ever get to his recently deceased and renowned father, but I can assure you he does his dad proud. Great manners, nice guy and he does wonderful volunteer work with the Builders Competition for Habitat for Humanity.

See upcoming blog on that event coming very soon.

Dog Poop Facts

2009-03-10T18:13:00.001-04:00

We all know dog waste looks and smells unpleasant. However, many of us do not know all the facts about canine waste and the effects on the environment, our health and lawn quality. Here are some facts.

Dog waste can transmit bacteria and viruses including, tapeworm, roundworm, E. Coli, Parvo and more.

Canine fecal matter is a top contributor to storm water pollution.

Waste matter accumulation can negatively effect your lawns appearance and health.

Dog waste cannot be used as a fertilizer.

A pile can take a year or more to fully breakdown.

Dog waste accumulation can attract mice and parasites.

Dog's can be found in 3 out of 5 households in the U.S. That's a lot of poop.

http://www.1800dogpoop.com/#/dogpoopfaqs/4531431754

Dog Laws Even I Couldn't Make Up!

2009-03-09T21:13:00.013-04:00

Did you know that it is illegal to let your dog sleep in your bathtub in Brooklyn? We have more loony laws for dogs in the U.S. than we do for humans, such as the dog barking ordinance. If your dog barks four times per minute for more than ten minutes, or two times a minute for at least a half hour, both the owner of the dog and the dog would be in violation of said law and fined accordingly. Would that mean that they'd actually count the amount of barks. And what about a howl? Is a howl in violation? Isn't that what dogs are supposed to do? Bark or howl? Isn't that their only form of communication? And what is a cop supposed to do? Stand there and count on his fingers while a bank is being held up down the block.

New York is not the only state to hold dogs to the absurd. In California of all places where I thought anything was a go, animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship. No dog shall be in a public place without its master on a leash. And one may not take his dog on an elevator with him.

OK - that one makes sense.But only because I have a scary story about my old dog Ben on an elevator. He walked out the back door as we waited for people to come in the front. The door closed on his leash and up we went. I looked down to pet him only to find a leash getting tighter and tighter as the elevator went higher and higher. And no Ben! SNAP went the leash! I expected to find a dead dog seven stories up, but luckily the leashed snapped at the top of floor one and he landed on all fours by the kitchen garbage. Talk about happy to see someone — we were both elated. I doubt Ben had a clue how I envisioned finding his flattened and mangled body.

Dogs aren’t the only ones affected by weird laws. San Francisco prohibits elephants from strolling down Market Street unless they are on a leash. And it is illegal to pile horse manure more than six feet high on a street corner. Did I mention I have nightmares about entering your yards to find the poop in piles up to my knees? And you thought pooper scoopers' had no stress.

In Illinois they have more puritanical laws such as it is illegal to give your dogs whiskey or keep a smelly dog. Best yet it is against the law to make faces at dogs. You can do whatever you want to other humans, but shooting dogs, making faces at them or keeping them dirty is verboten.

More Snow - Maybe I Can Focus!

2009-03-04T10:09:00.003-05:00

Actually, I love snow days. They allow me an opportunity to get caught up with everything else it takes to run a business when you are actually running around running the business. The downside is that I actually like to be outside in the snow too, so very little gets done either in the poop scooping part of the job or in the taking care of business part either.

After being in the dog waste management business for almost 7 years I have discovered something probably every employer of mine always knew. I am easily distracted. Very easily distracted. I write lists, I do my business plan, I keep my calendar on three devices (paper, palm pilot and computer), I get up at the same time every day, I stick to a schedule and I keep distractions (like good books, good art and good food) to a minimum AND I still get distracted. In spite of my highly distractable nature, I still get a lot done, but I wonder how much I would really get done if I had the ability to sit still for more than 30 minutes maximum.

Years ago, when the oh so vogue quality of the decade was "ability to multitask", I was revered and watched in awe. My performance reviews always commented on my calm demeanor and ability to take multi-tasking to a high art form.

Projects assigned to me would send other collegues to the "nap" couch in the ladies room. I loved dealing with no rules and being the one to create them; working with different cultures in time zones that had me attending conferences calls at 3AM. And while this was less than a decade ago, cell phones, PDA's, Twitter, Facebook and the myrid of other distracting tools did not even exist. They would have really been cool to use during my premier multitaking days.

Now I find myself trying to hide out for a few hours a day - away from distractions. I hate to multi-task. I want to savor the moment, the air, the task, the book, the drawing - whatever it is I am doing at the moment. And that is why, even in the snow, I find myself climbing small, icy mountains to find that poop. It is relaxing. It requires focus and concentration. And I get to be outside, away from all the things that distract me. God forbid, I do not want to step in anything that I could have picked up first.

And Why Would I Know That...?

2009-02-24T15:11:00.002-05:00

Yesterday while doing my poop patrol in one of my favorite yards, I found something very interesting. Very, very interesting. For those of you who wonder why I even look at the poop, let me remind you that it is a value added service most of you never realize we offer at no additional charge. I have studied and am able to identify a variety of worms; can distinguish between blood in feces as opposed to red die from a poorly made dog toy; and identify foreign objects in your dogs' stools that really should not be there.

Colleagues of mine have informed clients of problems in their dogs' stools fast enough to avert some serious problems. The most I have ever found has been worms, thongs (not the kind for your feet) and tons of paper products from gift wrappings and ribbons (tough on your dogs tummy) to pampers (very expensive surgery for removal). One of my fellow scoopers discovered a diamond ring that the owner thought she had lost. He knocked on her door and inquired if she was missing any valuable jewelry. She looked at him suspiciously before answering, wondering why in the world would he even know she had lost the ring. He handed it over, wrapped in plastic, so she could clean it off. She gave him a $5. tip. I think I would have made him dinner for the week if I lost the ring and he actually found AND retrieved it.

So, what did I find? At first I thought I was seeing things, because after being around poop for awhile, it can take on different sculptural forms. At first glance it looked like this pile had two legs. I quickly dismissed that idea and was ready to shovel it in my bag when I glanced again. It had four legs and was not a mouse or shrew. It was too big. Then I noticed some sort of horns on its head. In fact the whole body was intact, just very flat and squished looking. And dead.

When we were kids our Dad bought home a alligator for us as a pet. We lost it in the house for several months, and bit by bit hamsters and Guinea pigs were starting to disappear too! We eventually found the alligator and he had really grown. We never found the Guinea pigs. Much like some poor kid is never going to find the iguana their dog devoured.

Remind me to tell you the story about the time my Dad traded our car for a monkey. It would have been easier to let us have a dog.

Good Rules About Blogging and Pooping

2009-02-22T12:37:00.003-05:00

I recently received feedback that I was a bit wordy in my blogs. The comment didn't surprise me as I have received that feedback ever since I was in fourth grade and made up my own version of The Saints of the Day. Sister Martin would always fall asleep as we were required to read the daily saintly sufferings, so I started to add a more positive bend to their stories. The other readers would get mad because I made everyone laugh and then wake up Sister, ruining our free time.

I think I have been guilty of TMI long before it even became a phrase. Over the years, mostly through corporate jobs, business writing and lack of time, I have learned to edit myself. But apparently not enough. And I love feedback, so it was good to hear.

So in honor of brevity, here are a few rules I have created for bloggers.

Get to the point
Stay on the point
Ask questions
Get out before you make a fool of yourself.

And since this is a MissPoop blog, here are a few rules for proper dog pooping etiquette.

Let others in household know you have to go before you go inside
Choose one place in yard so it is easy on your poop scoop service provider
Do not eat food that will make a mess
Go twice a day
If in public, have owner bring pretty poop bag to pick it up
Get out before you make a fool of yourself

Have a great Sunday. Must go. My four pooper providers really want a walk NOW!

How Much is Enough?

2009-02-18T22:30:00.008-05:00

Aside from visiting your yards almost on schedule, MissPoop has been running to the Super Pet Expo and the vet. The Super Pet Expo gave us the opportunity to publicize our business's and mop up after thousands of dogs. I figured it would be busy, but had no idea that it would be crazy busy, so the rest of my life is running a bit behind. One of the nice parts about pooper scoopers is how they like to work together. Not in the same yard, mind you, or even in the same neighborhood. But we do like to help each other out and keep all of our businesses efficient and profitable while offering great service. I was fortunate enough to have another pooper scooper, Tracy from Cleven's K9, help me out, along with quite a few freinds, and the experience reminds me how lucky we all are to have created a fun business that supports our families.

When MissPoop was still a grain of sand in my mind (for about two hours) I researched other people who had this sort of job and called them to ask what they thought about me starting the service in my area. Without exception, everyone I called, and I called them all over the country, gave me great advice, support and ideas. Many of the guys I called (not many women were in the business yet) had previous careers ranging from undertakers to lawyers and everyone in between. I was fasinated by the variety of "past-life" jobs and careers that led them to being a pooper scooper. Almost every one of them had reached a point where they had enough oblique "poop" in their lives and decided, like myself, to face it right on. None of us really knew what we were were saying at the time, but sure enough, we deal directly with the "s$#t" now and it's no big deal. And most of the time we are smiling about it.

Aside from the expo I have been taking my oldest dog, Spunky, back to the vet. He has something called Demodectic mange and $6000 and six months later, it is still not under control. The mange exhibits itself in older dogs only when their immune system has been compromised, which is happening in Spunky since he has had several rough bouts of Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. All three are tick borne diseases and treated easily with antibiotics. Spunky was treated months before the first sore appeared, but he still got sicker. I was given Spunky when he was eight years old, so we don't know how long he had been sick. He started with Lyme related problems a few months after we got him, which I have treated with antibiotics several times.

I never in my life thought I would spend this much money on my dog. I figured if they got cancer, I would make them comfortable and ease the pain as we went through the process of letting go at the right time. I would be sad but accepting. However, this complicated situation is not bad enough to die over, but is bad enough to go broke over. And I can't stop treatment...although maybe this current treatment simply because it is ineffective. Spunky still eats like a pony, loves his long walks and engages in all family activities. So what do I say? Sorry buddy, but you are costing me too much money, so pop off will you? My two previous dogs, both Golden Retrievers, lived very long healthy lives and I am not used to this situation at all.

It is pretty rough out there for families with no health insurance much less pet insurance. I frequently wonder how I will be able to afford new knees, a face lift and a pacemaker when and if the time comes. Throwing a dog into my health care budget is simply not a line item I thought to include...aside from the basic visits and continual care for other tick borne issues that happen in our area A LOT.

So, if you were in my situation, when do you stop spending? How do you make the decision and what decision do you make? I think I know what I plan on doing, but I would really like to hear some other opinions, advice or possible solutions, before I make a final decision. Spunky would really like to hear them too; his life may depend upon it!

Snow, snow, come and stay because...

2009-02-02T22:06:00.008-05:00

MissPoop is going away. Not for long mind you, but long enough so that when we get back the weather is welcoming us with balmy arms.

Going away when you work for yourself, and part of your crew is also part of your life, is very difficult. Plus our vacationing styles have some major differences. I am pretty flexible, although I am certain the other human in my life might disagree. I can drive ten hours through the night (actually the other human, henceforth referred to as OH, does all the driving - I sleep) and take a nice morning hike upon arrival at some new enchanted forest. What I can't take is more driving, more hiking, more driving, more hiking, and eating really bad food along the way so we can get as many daylight hours of hiking in as possible.

I guess I should have known something was up when OH and I first met and I mentioned I loved to hike in the woods all day. Great, he must have thought, someone who thinks just like me. I certainly thought I met my perfect match! As the months and years went on though, I realized his idea of a perfect day hiking in the woods was just that. No romantic picnic baskets lovingly packed, heck - no food - it just slows you down OH grumbles. And forget about water much less a nice thermos of coffee or lemonade. We, and the dogs, hike from dawn to dusk, through several types of forests all in one day; over to beaches and dunes; up mountains and through some of the most awesome waterfalls I have had the joy to run through. I love almost every minute of it, but I still miss a bit of luxury. Or even just taking an afternoon nap beneath the trees, warmed by sun and happy, snoring dogs.

We have reached a nice level of compromise over the past few years. OH takes several week long excursions across the country, dragging poor Sacha and Hootie along. I take week-ends off here and there to take drawing classes. And days in between vacations I sneak away for a few hours of quiet or self-indulgent girlfriend time, drinking coffee and "doing lunch". Or just being by myself. We both need that, it's just my self time would be spent in an Opera Cafe, which would be like torture to the poor guy. The vacations we take together are shorter and now we have a "base camp" so I at least know where I am sleeping every night...and it's not a tent! Did I forget to mention - my perfect guy also doesn't like hotels, other people's houses, and absolutely no B&B's.

The upside to all of this is that I have seen more of this country than I ever thought I would. And I love traveling with our dogs. I pack a huge bag of knitting, sketch books, novels and at least ten years worth of stuff I hope to get to but never do because we are having fun.

Oh yes - we'll be out of town for a few days so no poop scoop service for the rest of the week!

Did you know Marcel Proust knew...

2009-02-02T21:47:00.011-05:00

...much about poop scooping? I didn't either. In fact, the career option probably did not even exist at the time. I received the following quote and it struck me as something they should have mentioned in school. Not just art school, but any school. It speaks about so much more than art. It speaks about diversity, and understanding how unique we are. It speaks about how only through others can we the total universe.

So, what's this got to do with poop? Absolutely nothing, but I love the quote and will use it as one of my daily prayers to the Gods of creativity and self-employed business people.

"Only through art can we get outside of ourselves and know another's view of the universe which is not the same as ours and see landscapes which would otherwise have remained unknown to us like the landscapes of the moon. Thanks to art, instead of seeing a single world, we see it multiply until we have before us as many worlds as there are original artists." Marcel Proust

So, What's the Deal - It's Only Ice!

2009-01-31T16:40:00.003-05:00

I have a quandry. It's ice. Do I slither and slide down to the next pile of poop, only to find even my heel kick dance won't dislodge it. Do I take a chance on the ice or not. The bottom line is no - not anymore.

It might because I am getting older. Or maybe the fractured ribs, dislocated shoulder, cracked bridge, scarred nose, bloodied forehead complete with concussion, torn ACL and miniscus, and severly damaged ego are making me more cautious. Granted none of those things happened while poop scooping, but walking on ice, all of a sudden, freaks me out.

I don't even like to watch the dogs slither about, but that's after spending over $4000 on medical bills this past year...and none of that was ice related either.

It's funny how you can spend your whole life bumping about and then the one thing that hasn't hurt you at all, you avoid as if it had been stalking you, waiting to attack. In all fairness, the concussion and bloodied, bruised forehead WAS ice related, but a fair amount of my own stupidity at knocking five foot icicles off my roof contributed.

So, dear customers, if you see the poop piling up for a few days (or an extra week) please bear with us. We just don't do ice. But we don't charge extra when we have to come back after two weeks and get it all - finally!

Another Week of Very Little Poop Scooping

2009-01-30T23:32:00.007-05:00

As a child I loved snow days and never thought as an adult the excitement would be relived. Snow, as a pooper scooper, has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are obvious - you can find the poop with no problem! The disadvantages are that sometimes it is very mushy, wet and heavy; it tears through poop bags; you need more bags than normal; you can't get as much on the pan in the first run because if it is too hard, it just rolls off and, finally, you can't always get everything up! It is frozen to the ground. A word of caution, kicking frozen poop with your toes will break your toes, however kicking it with your heel frequently will disengage the frozen pile from its mooring.

The best advantage is snow days. Snow days are like a unexpected present. Some years we hardly have one and we cherish them. And some years, and this year seems to be one, we will have many. I love to catch up on reading and self-indulgent afternoon naps. The downside is that a few days of no poop scooping is fine, but a week or two really puts a kink in the profits. We try to make the most of it, but I find I miss being outdoors for most of the day, no matter what the weather. All my ambitious plans of catching up on the other business of the business are forgotten as I get caught up in a novel, creating a frantic flurry of activity to do it all in one long day of crabby hell.

We try to take advantage of snow days, if we can coincide planning, to take a few days off and drag the home dogs somewhere warm and sunny. It's always a dilemma - leave the cold and poop behind, or get my miners shovel out and get back to work!

The Best Season for Scooping

2009-01-15T17:52:00.003-05:00

People assume that winter is the easiest season for a pooper scooper. You know, the poop is hard and manageable - right? And it just sits there, primly on top of the snow waiting to be plucked up. In many ways, that's right. I love the day or so after a nice snow, not icey snow, when we simply have to show up and clean the top level of a few days or less of poop. But it always catches up with you. The layers unfreeze, bit by bit, and I find mysled with ten times more the work that if I just had a normal week. All in all though, winter is easy enough.

Fall is the worst time. Not because of the weather though. I love being outside in the middle of the day in the fall. It is still warm and sunny, but cool enough that our "product" is hard with enough flexibility that makes it easy to pile up. It's those damn leaves. Surprising, I can tell what is a leaf and what is poop at just a glance. Even if the color is the same, leaves have edges and crinkles unlike any poop I've ever seen. In the more humid fall weather a soft coating of mold gives the poop a furry look even after one night and morning dew. It is the leaves that cover the poop and then I step on a leaf, slip and slide down a small hill. That part is not fun, mostly because, as you slid you are not a rolling stone gathering no moss. You are a warm and attractive being (to the poop) gathering whatever the heck it wants to attach to your bum.

Summer, while hot, is good since most of the poop dehydrates very quickly. It is pliable enough to mush well in the pan, allowing you to get twice as much in one gathering than a winter scoop. Summer does bring all kinds of interesting other insects and other items to the forefront, and would make for great science experiments, so if anyone has the need for a research team, we hire out.

The very nature of spring makes this the best poop scooping weather. It does not make for the best poop though. Too much rain, or even a normal amount make it messy. What more can I say...that you really want to know...about that part of the job.

The upside is that every single spring day we get to be outside, breathing in the fresh air, watching gardens grow, watching all sorts of forest families come alive as if in a Disney movie,we come alive ourselves. Spring always makes me remember why I like this business. I love seeing the days get longer and getting up earlier just to be outside.

Fortunately, I love seasons and am grateful to live in a moderate enough climate where we have them and none are so brutal one doesn't have to suffer more than a few days at a time. And thankfully, I love my job more often than not. No s*&t!