Why don't your neighbors pick up their dog’s poop?

Left-behind dog poop is annoying. But it’s also a sign of anti-sociality.Spotting unidentified poop outside is an unfortunate and unavoidable part of being alive, but in some cities, there’s a scourge being left behind by some people’s four-legged friends. Manuela López-Restrepo, writer and producer at All Things Considered, couldn’t stop noticing it – and she wondered if it might be a sign of something deeper going on. Paired with dogs popping up in places they maybe shouldn’t be – she wondered: can dogs be a vector for anti-social behavior? And what would it look like for people – and their pets – to share space more harmoniously? Manuela shares her reporting with Brittany and they get deeper into the story of the dookie. (00:00) Genuinely, why do people leave dog poop on the street?(02:59) Dog poop as a symbol of urban entitlement(05:38) When dogs show up at restaurants(07:27) How the pandemic created a 'dog's rights movement'(10:58) Dogs, race, and surveillance(18:13) Is dog poop a policy issue?(26:32) Investing in cleanliness and a more compassionate publicFor more episodes about culture and how we share public space, check out:The Coldplay kiss cam & moral surveillanceCrime is down. Why don't people feel safe?In search of a safe place to cry...Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy