I have four small dogs, none of which weigh over 10 pounds. I am convinced that they produce at least their own weight in waste each and every day. I have tried everything to reduce the amount of feces these miniature fertilizer machines produces in a twenty four hour period, but nothing seems to work. I finally gave up on trying to reduce the amount and instead decided that I needed to find a way to reap the rewards of this obviously god sent bounty.

I had always the heard the crude expression that the grass was greener where the dogs had s—, so I decided to investigate this. It turns out that the expression isn’t exactly true. The high nitrogen content of the excrement is not only not right for grass, it actually promotes the growth of many weeds. That explains my yard. I knew it wasn’t my fault. However, further research revealed that the dog feces could be mixed with other compost to make an excellent fertilizer for flowers. Problem solved.

I acquired a large garbage can to use as a compost bin. Frequent spills led me to solve the problem by burying it in the ground up to the rim. This solved the spillage issue and I liked how it looked. I began to fill the bin with what seemed liked tons of doggy poo, though I’m sure it was only several hundred pounds. To that I added household refuse such as coffee grounds and vegetable peels.

Though it seems that as long as you add sufficient kitchen refuse and lawn clippings so that the dog waste only makes up about one third of the total compost, it might be a good idea to test it before you use in on your prize petunias. Testing kits are available to tell you the PH as well as nitrogen and phosphorus levels. I’m planning to find a way to alter my dogs’ diet so they produce perfect, readymade compost. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

After only a couple of months the bin is about half full. Spring will soon be upon us and I intend to make full use my endless supply of fertilizer. It’s like getting a little money back from the countless dollars I spend on doggy chow.

I’m not quite at the point of soliciting strangers on the street for their extra dog feces, but I feel a little more satisfied that I’m getting something out of the entire mess. Now when I stoop down with my little plastic bag to clean up after my terrier, I no longer feel a slave of the royal court. I now look at is as taking advantage of the little guys for the benefit of my garden. I’m hoping this green approach to dog waste management will earn me some carbon credits to make up for the pollution my SUV produces.