Media

May I scoop your poop?

The Daily Progress: Charlottesville Business Journal
November 8, 2004

This innovative company thrives on the fact that, as its website says, "dogs unfortunately don't tend to clean up after themselves."

Their mission statement is "Doody is our duty."

The company was founded by University of Virginia graduates Jacob D'Aniello and his wife Susan.

They began scooping up dog poop on weekends after they graduated from college in 1999 "so we'd have money to go out to dinner," D'Aniello told the Charlottesville Daily Progress in a story published yesterday.

The UVA economics major knew there was an untapped market: 40% of American households have at least one dog, and 35% of those households have two or more.

They've just begun franchising: the Charlottesville area is available for $12,500.

The price includes a one-week training program, uniforms, waste removal equipment, and promotional materials.

The company has grown to where the D'Aniellos have five employees working for them.

Households pay an average $17 per week for the service.

D'Aniello said, "Dog poop is toxic. There are germs and bacteria. Around playgrounds it's a health hazard. Kids don't know they aren't supposed to pick things up and play with it."

Simone Rones of McLean, Virginia has been a client for four years.

Now that one of her basset hounds has cancer and is going through chemotherapy, she said there are safety reasons for the service.

"When a dog goes through chemotherapy, his waste becomes hazardous to other dogs. It's been especially important to have our yard cleaned to protect our other dog."

DoodyCalls also takes on the tougher tasks of deer and goose waste.
"It's harder to find," D'Aniello said. "It's small. It hides in the grass."

DoodyCalls has been featured on MSNBC's "The News with Brian Williams" and in the Washington Times.

Despite the attention, D'Aniello admits it's not the most glamorous job.

There is, however, an advantage to that.

"Until everyone wakes up and says, 'Gee, I want to pick up dog poop,' we'll have a job."