Dog poo sacks along trails: Why?

[aspen 20]

My wife, young son (7), and myself just hiked well over 30 miles since Friday in the Columbia Gorge a Mirror Lake. One thing we noticed right away was there are a lot of dogs in Oregon. The second thing we noticed was the doggy sacks sitting along the trail. Is this ok to do? This does not seem to be good trail etiquette. If allowed, who picks this stuff up?

[adamschneider]

It's not OK. It's littering. The people who leave them there are assholes.

[Peabody]

Is this ok to do?

Yes.

If allowed, who picks this stuff up?

Retired Jerry

[romann]

LOL @ Peabody

My guess is they were going to pick their bag on the way down (and some probably forget or can't find it). Otherwise I don't understand why they'd bother using plastic bag in the first place, if they planned to leave it

[adamschneider]

My guess is they were going to pick their bag on the way down

I've considered this, and I think it's the most likely explanation... but they're still assholes.

[aiwetir]

I wish there was an easier way to collect them all up.

I've wanted to go to Coyote Wall, collect up all the bags, and arrange them in a pretty pattern around the garbage can.

[Guy]

My guess is they were going to pick their bag on the way down

I've considered this, and I think it's the most likely explanation... but they're still assholes.

While Mr. Peabody's post made me laugh out loud I've got to agree with Adam.

Also I don't think the majority do forgot, they put it in the bag because they don't want people to see them letting their dog poop on the trail but then when they come back down they no longer have to take ownership of it, nobody knows it belongs to them.

[retired jerry]

That's my mission in life, pick up all those sacks...

I just spent a couple days with relatives with dogs.

I noticed them do that a couple times - leave sack on side of trail

But they picked them up on the way back

Maybe people forget to do this

[walkin62]

Adam is correct. It is littering. It doesn't matter if you intend to pick it up later or not. "Temporary" littering is still littering. Everyone who comes by after you doesn't know if you're coming back or not, but they do get to look at your trash either way. Leave no trace applies to you and your dog, and I'm pretty sure none of you leave your own crap in a bag on the trail.

[retired jerry]

I agree, people should carry their poop bag,

I was in a heavy dog area so maybe more acceptable there