What dogs accomplish and owners think
Who hasn't experienced it? A sunny day - time to go for a walk with our "four-pawed" friends. Whether through the park or through the streets of our beautiful city of Offenbach - a "dog pile" is of course a must!
Option number 1:
You don't change anything about your situation. You continue to leave the dog poo lying around, risking a €150.00 fine and the fact that not only your shoes, but also the shoes of your friends, family and strangers stink of shit - which will certainly go down well on a first date.
I can understand that this option is "comfortable" at first. Leave it and move on.... As long as I don't see it, it's none of my business! - It'll just be problematic if everyone thinks that way. Right?
And now the time has come for me to torture you a little with the philosopher Immanuel Kant - sorry, but you have to get through it just like the dog poo you left lying around. "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a general law." What does that mean? - Let me explain briefly using the following example:
Everyone only does what is best for them at the time. So if you decide to take your dog for a walk and leave your dear friend's droppings lying around, you have to expect that other owners will do the same.
So let's assume it's a general law to leave your dog's poop lying around. According to Statista (opens in a new tab), there were around 12.27 million dogs in Germany in 2021. Experience shows that you should walk your dog 3 - 4 times a day. That would be 36.81 million - 49.08 million dog turds per day. And since dog poo doesn't decompose within a week, after a few days we have more dog poo than people in Germany.
For this reason, I would now like you to concentrate more on option 2 so that our city doesn't drown in poo.
Option number 2:
From now on, you are no longer just thinking about yourself and your comfort, but are interested in becoming an environmentally conscious and responsible person. It's not that difficult, by the way!
Before you set off with your four-legged friend, take a few dog waste bags with you. If you're out and about in Offenbach, keep your eyes open! For example, you will often find so-called "dog stations" in parks and near paths that are suitable for walking.
What exactly is it? - Dispensers for free dog bags!
These were set up by the Offenbach public utility company to give you the opportunity to remove the poop when you're out and about. I can imagine that you might find it a little overwhelming at first to pick up your dog's feces, but believe me, your parents weren't thrilled either when they had to change your diaper for the first time.
Remember that you were the one who decided to get the dog. You are responsible for him and therefore have a responsibility. Feces lying on the street are not only unsightly if you step in them, but can also lead to illnesses in animals and people. And we all don't want that!
It is important that you dispose of the dog waste bag properly afterwards. It's no good bagging up the poo and then throwing it into the nearest bush - and yes, there are plenty of "specialists" like that. However, this is even more harmful to the environment, as the bin liner is made of plastic and therefore takes quite a long time to decompose.
What can you do about it? Walk a few steps to the nearest garbage can. Like the "dog stations", these can also be found in large numbers in parks and on streets.
By taking this step, you are not only doing yourself and your health a favor, but also all people and animals!
Did you already know?
As part of their littering campaign "RespectOffenbach (opens in a new tab)!", the city and Stadtwerke are working together to draw attention to precisely this issue. In addition to "Kippi" and "Mülli", who have already taken part in numerous campaigns, "Shitti", a dog poo measuring approx. 1 m x 1 m, will now also draw attention to the problem in our parks.
Until then: show respect instead of filth!
If you have any questions about resources and waste, the staff at the resources and waste advisory service will be happy to help you.