Thirty-Year-Old's Battle Against Dog Litter On Mountain Trails

"I tell her she is making her dogs business, everyone else's."

Damjan

• Published in Animal Stories
• February 5, 2024

Hiking is a cherished activity for many, offering a peaceful escape into nature. However, a common issue is starting to tarnish this tranquil experience: the mishandling of dogs' waste by their owners on the trails.

This dilemma not only raises questions about etiquette and responsibility but also about how such actions affect the environment and fellow hikers' enjoyment. OP is a 30-year-old woman who loves hiking.

Lately, she has been getting annoyed with other hikers, especially those who bring their dogs along. Just the other day, she went for a quick hike on a familiar trail.

It's usually a short trip, but you can spend several hours if you want to. As she was hiking up, she noticed a dog owner bagging her dog's poop and then tying the bag to a tree.

Confused, OP asked her why she left it there. She explained that she planned to pick it up on her way back, as she didn't want to carry it during the hike.

OP couldn't help but point out that this was essentially littering and spoiling the experience for everyone else. She insisted she'd come back for it, but OP expressed her doubts, calling her a lazy dog owner.

She snapped at OP to mind her own business, to which OP replied that she was making it everyone's business. They argued for a bit, and then she moved on.

By the time OP was heading back, the bag was gone, and so was she. Still, OP can't help wondering: was she too harsh?

OP is a 30-year-old female hiker is increasingly frustrated with fellow hikers and their dogs.

OP observed a dog owner tying a bag of their dog's poop to a tree during a hike, with the intention of picking it up later to avoid carrying it.

OP confronted her about not cleaning up after their dog during a hike, but OP began to wonder if she was wrong about the situation.

Even if it's there for just an hour, it affects others' enjoyment of the area.

People should carry small bags to clean up after their dogs.

It would be better if people didn't litter the trails with it.

Not at fault.

People publicly displaying their waste in trees is disgusting and should be strongly condemned.

It's frustrating that dog owners are selfish and inconsiderate of others.

There should be fines for this behavior.

It's important to address such behavior.

It ruins the joy of nature.

When people don't clean up after their dogs on hiking trails, it can ruin the experience for others. Even if the dog waste is left for a short time, it still makes the place less enjoyable.

Dog owners should carry bags to pick up after their pets, and it's better if they don't leave them behind at all. Putting dog waste in trees or anywhere else is not only gross but also rude to other hikers and nature.

It's frustrating because it shows that some dog owners only care about themselves and not others. There should be penalties for this behavior to encourage better behavior.

We need to make sure that hiking stays a fun and peaceful activity for everyone by being considerate and taking care of the environment.

Damjan