If you have a dog and let it poop in your own yard — it’s your own decision whether to pick it up or not. Personally, I wouldn’t want to step in dog crap when I mow my lawn, but it’s a free country. If you like the smell of dog crap on your shoes after you’ve mowed — hey, whatever trips your trigger, dude.

But when you let your dog do its business somewhere that you don’t own, like someone else’s yard or a public place like the cemetery or park — that’s different. It comes down to respect. You can train your dog where to do that — or if he has to go, you can discourage him from doing it somewhere inappropriate.

This is one of the reasons I don’t have a dog and probably won’t unless we move out in the country. I don’t like dealing with dog crap. I don’t like picking it up and I sure don’t like it on my shoes. Many people feel the same way. Out of respect for those of us who don’t like dealing with it — could you please encourage your dog to go somewhere else? That’s all we’re asking.