Don't Want To Pick Up After Your Dog? 'Dr. Poolittle' Does

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It seems when the snow melts, some less than pleasant sights are unearthed. Like what dogs leave behind.

Dog owner Danielle Shipe said that during the winter months, she tends to let things go when it comes to her dogs.

"To be honest, with the snow, we just let 'em go the yard, and once it's melted, we clean it up," she said.

John Webster, a fellow dog owner, said he's seen the stuff in public, too.

"We just went over to the tennis courts...and there was definitely some droppings that were hanging out that looked a little ancient," he said.

But what's bad for the bottom of your shoes is good for Brian Benson, aka "Dr. Poolittle."

"It's a crappy job," he said. "But there is plenty of jokes that go along with it, too."

His job is to come in and scoop up after the dog's business has been done. And this spring, business is booming.

"It's a really good thing we have all that snow in the winter for our business," Benson said. "Because it covers everything up and people, after the snow melts, realize that they need help with their yard, and then we get business."

With this week's weather, he says he's been scooping 12 hours a day.

For a two-dog yard, Benson said he charges about $90.

But not all dog owners are willing to pay someone to pick up after their pet.

Shipe says the spring cleaning duty is part of her job as a dog owner.