Media

Cleaning up after Fido

The Daily News Transcript
By Erin Walsh / News Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 4, 2003

DoodyCalls and Brian McCann has answered.

The North Attleboro resident is in the start-up stages of a new venture he hopes one day will make him a tidy profit.

It's a dog waste removal business aptly named, DoodyCalls.

McCann, a former software release engineer, said he never dreamed of becoming a professional pooper scooper, but such a service in Massachusetts seems to be lacking.

"It's really a big, niche industry," said McCann, who hopes to expand DoodyCalls in Massachusetts by taking on residential and commercial clients.

According to McCann, North Attleboro is home to about 2,500 dogs, while more than 1,200 are registered in Dedham.

McCann said he charges $12 per weekly visit for residential clients, with the extent of the work consisting of removing dog droppings from yards. He uses dustpans with long handles, which are disinfected before and after each use to avoid spreading parasites from one home to another.

DoodyCalls is the brainchild of Jacob D'aniello, a Virginia man who caught McCann's eye during an interview on CNBC, in which he touted his new business as a creative answer to a down economy.

"I figure I know my way around dogs. I'm not afraid of them and I get to be outside in the fresh air," said McCann. "I can make a go of this."

Ideally, McCann said he'd like to sign up multi-dwelling unit managers who run condo complexes that allow dogs.

"Everything is double-bagged and a chlorine bleach solution is used to ensure sanitary conditions," said McCann.

"The service is very professional and individual attention is paid to each client," said McCann. "It's a low-tech business and I like it."

More information about DoodyCalls can be found at www.doodycalls.com or by calling McCann at 508-212-9193.

Erin Walsh can be reached at 781-433-8337 or by e-mail at ewalsh@cnc.com.