His job stinks, and he really loves it

Friday, July 28, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff Photo by Darwin Weigel Steve Potts plies his trade, picking up pet poop. He started Southern Maryland pet Waste Removal this spring. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Staff Photo by Darwin Weigel Lisa Johnson and Potts pose with five of their seven dogs at their home in Solomons. The dogs, clockwise from lower left, are Mr. Brown, Max, Bowire, Daisy and Buddy.

Potts, with the help of Lisa Johnson, runs Southern Maryland Pet Waste Removal Service. Potts and Johnson will come to residential homes and businesses to clean up and remove pet waste.

‘‘No jobs too big or small,” Potts said.

Potts serves customers all over Southern Maryland, including areas of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.

Potts said he started the business after trying to think of a business he and his fiancee, Johnson, could do together. Both being animal lovers and seeing the need for these services in the area, they began looking into making pet waste removal a business. Potts soon found several like business in Maryland and throughout the county.

‘‘At first I thought maybe I was the first,” he said, explaining how he later realized there were at least five other similar businesses in Maryland.

Potts said people have different reasons for needing to hire a pet waste remover.

‘‘Every situation is unique,” Johnson said.

Potts said many times customers are too tired after a long day of work to get out and scoop up the waste.

‘‘They just want to come home and put their feet up,” he said.

Sometimes, he said, it is a matter of fighting over who in the household is responsible for picking up after the family dog.

It is these reasons and many more that makes the business a success, he said.

Southern Maryland Pet Waste Removal charges $12.50 a week for a one-pet yard. The rates go up depending on number of pets and size of yard. The daily hours of operation are typically from 7 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Potts sees it as ‘‘from 7 until the job is done.”

Potts currently serves 10 residential customers, one kennel and one grooming shop. He can collect upwards of 150 pounds of waste in one day of work. He takes the waste to the Calvert County landfill in Appeal, where he is often greeted with a cringe; sometimes he is told he cannot dump there. He takes it with a grain of salt simply saying, ‘‘it is what it is.”

With a rake and bag, Potts and Johnson set out to clean up yards as a convenience to pet owners and for the well-being of the pet.

Johnson said leaving dog waste in the yard could cause health concerns for dogs. Potts agreed and added that leaving dog waste in yards leaves a not-so-friendly odor.

Potts said many people don’t understand what exactly he does until they see it for themselves. He said his customers and their pets are pleased with the work he does.

‘‘We are man’s second best friend.”

For more information on Southern Maryland Pet Waste Removal Service, contact Steve Potts at 410-326-0091, or at Steve@somdpetwaste.com. Contact the Web site www.somdpetwaste.com for further information.

E-mail Gretchen Phillips at gphillips@somdnews.com.