{"id":581207,"date":"2023-02-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/02\/17\/shit-and-run-or-why-you-need-to-stop-worrying-and-learn-to-love-the-pooper-scooper\/"},"modified":"2023-02-17T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T00:00:00","slug":"shit-and-run-or-why-you-need-to-stop-worrying-and-learn-to-love-the-pooper-scooper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2023\/02\/17\/shit-and-run-or-why-you-need-to-stop-worrying-and-learn-to-love-the-pooper-scooper\/","title":{"rendered":"(S)hit and run (or: Why you need to stop worrying and learn to love the pooper scooper)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/span>To all of the proud parents of Cairo\u2019s fur babies: <\/span><\/p>\n

As a mom myself, I know we\u2019re all smitten by the cuteness of our babies<\/span>, furry or not. Our <\/span>hearts melt as they babble, burp, and drool \u2014 you name it. But I think we can all agree on one thing: When it\u2019s time to clean their chubby baby a*ses (however many times a day), it\u2019s a gentle reminder that when you pray for rain, <\/span>you better be prepared for <\/span>the mud, too. And truly, the \u201cbrown situation\u201d is one of the least-fun parts of parenthood. Fun or not, it\u2019s our parental obligation to wash those butt cheeks, collect the diapers, toss them (the diapers, not the babies) in the bin, right? <\/span><\/p>\n

But what if we woke up one day and decided to take our human balls of joy to the park \u2014 <\/span>sans diapers \u2014 and left them to poop wherever they pleased?<\/span> That would be a visual treat, wouldn\u2019t it?<\/span><\/p>\n

And therein, friends, lies the problem: Our city streets have become the Official <\/span>Dumpsters of Doggie Doodoo<\/span>, strewn with visual treats that leave no room for imagination. Name a size, color, texture, or state of decomposition, and you\u2019ll find it on our streets. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nowhere is this clearer in the capital city than in the People\u2019s Democratic Republic of <\/span>Maadi<\/span>, where there\u2019s no denying that a wonderful (and growing) community of dog owners are happily marching the streets with their bundles of joy. We love stopping to pet their dogs; seeing them come together for doggy playdates, birthday parties, and brunches; and saying \u201cHi\u201d to Michael, the neighborhood\u2019s famous dog whisperer. <\/span><\/p>\n

As much as I hate to be a party pooper, I must point out the obvious (to which so many are <\/span>oblivious): <\/span>Your dog doing his business is, unfortunately, <\/span>your<\/span> business, too.<\/span> We all share the same sidewalks and streets \u2014 streets on which you\u2019ve left an unmissable trail of doggy doo. It\u2019s a joy to step in \u2014 and spread to our cars, homes and work. <\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, I know. It\u2019s hard to scoop the poop. Hell, maybe you already have too much s*it in <\/span>your own lives to even contemplate stopping to pick up more. <\/span>But the rest of us don\u2019t care if you\u2019re lazy, distracted or nursing a herniated disc \u2014 you need to pick up after your fur baby. <\/span><\/p>\n

Leaving dog poop in the middle of the street or sidewalk is bad for everyone \u2014 the <\/span>environment, our health, and the health of other people\u2019s furry fiends.<\/span> The bacteria and parasites in dog poop is impressive: <\/span>A single gram of dog poop contains 23 mn fecal coliform bacteria (pdf)<\/a><\/span> \u2014 that's a lot of crap. <\/span><\/p>\n

Wait, it gets worse: <\/span>Roundworm, one of the most common parasites in dog waste, can remain <\/span>infectious in contaminated soil for years. And don\u2019t even get me started on salmonella, hookworm, tapeworm, giardia, and E. coli \u2014 all of which can transfer via waste to humans, to your own dog, or to others\u2019 four-legged friends. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a trained observer myself, I can confirm your dogs\u2019 treasure also attracts pests \u2014 <\/span>flies, rats, and roaches<\/span>, all of which are vectors for disease. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s a fertilizer,\u201d you say. I hear you, my dear friends. <\/span>But the simple fact is that our <\/span>sidewalks don\u2019t need fertilizing. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, but my dog poops on the grass in front of my neighbor\u2019s building.\u201d <\/span>Great. I won\u2019t <\/span>speak for your neighbors (who are unlikely to enjoy the s*itty situation you\u2019re creating), nor will I speak for their poor gardener. But consider this: <\/span>Dog poop is a crappy fertilizer. <\/span>Cow manure is perfect \u2014 produced by animals that feed mostly on plants and rich in nutrients that helps grass grow. Dog poop, on the other hand, is highly acidic (most dogs have diets high in protein) and it can damage your lawn if you let it sit out for too long. Composting dog poop isn\u2019t an easy peasy process, either, considering the strict guidelines you need to follow to ensure all of the parasites and bacteria die. <\/span><\/p>\n

Do you think I\u2019m bullsh*tting?<\/span> Go read <\/span>Can I use dog poop as fertilizer in my garden?<\/a><\/span> on <\/span>Doody Calls. <\/span><\/p>\n

And so it is that your dogs\u2019 feces sit royally in the middle of our streets waiting to <\/span>decompose (a process that can take weeks)<\/span>, presenting a health threat to everyone around you.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t want to read articles beseeching you to clean up after your buddy, then <\/span>please take a minute to read the signs around you <\/span>\u2014 including, in our neighborhood, around Cairo American College and the Angolan ambassador\u2019s residence. Not lacking in literacy, many turn a blind eye to these gentle reminders, leaving us no choice but to try to get their attention through less friendly measures. <\/span><\/p>\n

They say accountability breeds responsibility \u2014 and it\u2019s a no brainer that dog poop is <\/span>here to stay until dog owners are held accountable<\/span> for what\u2019s obviously not a very civil act.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I\u2019m suggesting our elected representatives come up with fines for dog owners <\/span>who fail to clean up after their pets<\/span>, leaving feces on any sidewalk, street, lawn or other public area. Perhaps our dear sanitation office (do we have one?) or the officials at the Hayy (are they still alive?) could consider the prospect of new revenues though fines on the order of what <\/span>North American and European cities impose: <\/span><\/p>\n