Poop bag question (janobonano)

 I'm in the it's okay camp. Of course, I have no idea it how long it would actually take the bag to biodegrade, but I've done it when we're walking in the woods and I know we're a long way from the trash can.

 

Mine go in my pocket until I can get to a trash can, which sometimes is after the drive home.

And, before you say, "yes but your doggies are small, small dog small poop," I DO have 4 of them I am picking up for!

It's a good question.  I think "bio-degradable" can be misleading.  Sure, it eventually biodegrades, but it might take 50 years instead of 100 (I don't know the facts, but I don't think it's a matter of days or something).  But I completely understand your dilemma (especially having a large dog!).  Was it someone on here who said once that's why they have their dog wear a knapsack -- to carry his/her own poop bag?  :-)

I've always been conflicted about the woods/pooping thing.  If you're truly out in the woods or nature somewhere (not near ball fields or on a groomed trail or path), doesn't it seem counter-intuitive in terms of environmental friendliness to take a perfectly bio-degradable material (poop) and tie it into a plastic bag (even one meant to bio-degrade)?  If you just left the pile (unbagged, maybe buried) in the woods, it'd dry up or get washed away very quickly, versus sitting in a landfill for decades.  I know it presents some health risks, but aren't they minimal if you're away from human traffic (and you know your dog doesn't have worms or parvo or something that could infect other animals)?

It's a conundrum!

Maybe I'm too much the pragmatist -- but why not just carry some small paper bags and small pieces of plain tissue. pick up with tissue, plop in paper bag and THEN toss in the woods. all back to nature's recycling. If you're like me I tend to fold up small paper bags to re-use them. I also tend to shove in my pocket/purse leftover napkins after I've been in a restaurant or takeout. Either you get not enough napkins or WAY too many. If you leave them on the table they throw them away (no recycle there) No guilt there - -as Tracy says as long as your dog is responsibly healthy.

I have one of those things called a "doogy dangler" that hangs on the leash handle and I just clip the bag on there until I either come to a public trash can or get home, whichever comes first.  At home I have a special little "poop can" to deposit it in that I empty once a week before the trash is picked up. In spite of the funny name, the doody dangler is actually one of the handiest little gadgets ever!

Joyce

I'm for the definitely not okay. As Tracy said biodegradable can be very misleading. They are having a terrible time with balloon releases people think are okay because they are biodegradable. There are several what they call plastic islands in our oceans and birds are feeding the stuff to their young and the babies are dying. One little biodegradable bag and then another biodegradable bag....on and on makes for not a pretty site. They could be dangerous to wildlife as well. Bag may still be there after poop is long gone. If anything I would have picked it up and left bag open and just tossed poop in woods off the path. I do that sometimes if in an area where there doesn't seem to be a lot of traffic. I feel guilty even doing that though, since there are so many more people taking their dogs for walks in areas like that and it adds up, so I very rarely even do that anymore. Hope I'm not offending here. Don't mean to, just answering honestly. :) I used to do the toss off the path, minus bag though, quite often but then realized what I've said above.

Not ok, sorry! Biodegradable or not it is still an ugly plastic bag in the woods for many many years. Callie had a good suggestion with the paper lunch sack.

I also think it's a good idea to ditch perfectly bio-degradable poop in the woods and take home used bag in a ziplock.