Guides for dog owners
The Scoop
Straight answers about dog poop: what pickup costs, how often to scoop, what's safe for kids and lawns, where it all goes when it rains, and the rules in every Macomb County community we serve.
Pricing
Service
- ServiceWhat does a pooper scooper service do? A visit, step by stepWhat a pooper scooper service does on every visit, in order: the heads-up text, grid sweep, double-bagging, gate photo and Happy Yard Guarantee.
- ServiceIs a dog poop pickup service worth it?An honest look at whether a pooper scooper service is worth it: who it's great for, who can skip it, what it costs each month, and the health reasons.
- ServiceHow to choose a pooper scooper service: 10 questions to askHiring a dog poop pickup service? Ask these 10 questions about sanitizing, gates, disposal, contracts, pricing and weather, and know the red flags.
- ServiceDo I need to be home for dog poop pickup? Your service questions, answeredNo, you don't need to be home. How gates and codes, dogs, weather days, billing, vacation pauses, cancelling and our guarantee work with Poopy Scoops.
- ServiceDog poop cleanup before you move out, sell or list a homeMoving out, selling or turning over a rental? When to book a dog poop yard cleanup, what renters should check first, and what a one-time cleanup costs.
Health
- HealthCan dog poop make you sick? Germs and parasites in the yardYes. The CDC says dog poop can carry roundworm, hookworm, Campylobacter and Salmonella. How people catch them, who is most at risk, and how to stay safe.
- HealthDog poop and kids: keeping the backyard safe to play inIs dog poop dangerous for kids? The CDC says young kids who play in dirt face the most roundworm risk. A scooping schedule, sandbox tips and a checklist.
Lawn & yard
- Lawn & yardHow often should you pick up dog poop in your yard?The CDC says to pick up dog poop every time. Here's why at least weekly matters, plus a schedule by number of dogs and how your yard gets used.
- Lawn & yardIs dog poop good for your lawn? Why it isn't fertilizerNo. The EPA calls the "natural fertilizer" idea a misconception. Dog poop smothers grass, carries roundworm eggs and washes into lakes. Do this instead.
- Lawn & yardHow long does dog poop take to break down?There's no reliable single number. What speeds up or stalls dog poop decomposition, why rain doesn't dissolve it, and why parasite eggs outlast the pile.
- Lawn & yardHow to get rid of dog poop and pee smell in your yardWhy your yard smells like dog pee and poop, and what clears it: scooping, water, enzyme cleaners, and the products to skip. Tips for Macomb County yards.
- Lawn & yardDog urine spots on your lawn: why they happen and how to help the grassWhy dog pee kills grass (nitrogen and salts, not pH), how to fix the spots, which grasses hold up, and which lawn-burn supplements to skip.
- Lawn & yardDog poop and pee on artificial turf: how to clean it and stop the smellHow to clean dog poop and pee off artificial turf, why turf holds urine smell, what never to use on it, a cleaning schedule and hot-turf paw tips.
- Lawn & yardHow to dispose of dog poop: trash, flush, compost or bury?Trash, toilet, compost, burial or yard waste bin? How to dispose of dog poop, with EPA and CDC guidance and Macomb County rules. Never the storm drain.
Seasonal
- SeasonalSpring dog poop cleanup: what the snow was hiding (and how to clear it)Snowmelt uncovers a whole winter of dog poop. Why to clean it up fast, a step-by-step DIY plan, and when a one-time spring yard cleanup makes sense.
- SeasonalScooping dog poop in winter: snow, ice and frozen pilesFrozen dog poop doesn't disappear. Why to keep scooping through a Michigan winter, how to lift frozen piles, and what happens when the snow melts.
Local guides
- Local guidesMacomb County dog poop laws, city by city (2026)Is it illegal to leave dog poop in Macomb County? Almost everywhere, yes. The pickup rule, code section and source for all 22 communities we serve.
- Local guidesNeighbor's dog pooping in your yard? What Macomb County law says (and what to do)Is it illegal for a neighbor's dog to poop in your yard? What Macomb County codes and Michigan law say, who to call, and what never to do.
- Local guidesDog parks and dog-friendly trails in Macomb CountyMacomb County's off-leash dog parks and what each one requires to get in, plus leashed trails, Metroparks dog rules and dog park etiquette.
- Local guidesWhere does dog poop go when it rains in Macomb County?Rain washes dog poop into Macomb County storm drains, and all 475 county drains end at Lake St. Clair. What that means for beaches, and what you can do.
HOA & commercial
- HOA & commercialPet waste stations for HOAs and apartments: a practical guideWhere to put pet waste stations in an HOA or apartment community, what the signs should say, how to keep them stocked, and how to pitch them to your board.
- HOA & commercialHOA dog poop rules, fines and DNA testing: a guide for Michigan boardsHow Michigan HOA and condo boards set dog poop rules: what the Condominium Act says about fines, a sample rule, DNA testing and goose droppings.
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