"Why on earth would anyone scoop poop for a living? It’s a question I’ve been asked dozens if not hundreds of times. As with most decisions, the reasons are many.
Fill the need. When we started telling people we were scooping poop, most laughed. I can’t blame them, it’s a pretty silly idea. People love their pets, but nobody likes a handful - or a shoe full of poop. Still, someone has to do it. It might as well be me.
It’s important to me to serve my community. I was raised in a small town with a set of values based on helping others. Volunteer work and just being a good neighbor have always been part of my life. Pet Butler allows me to serve and still make a living. For me, it’s the best of both worlds.
This job is not for everyone. We work outdoors, year round, in all kinds of weather. On a beautiful day, it’s a great job. On a cold, rainy day, it’s still better than sitting in an office or working an assembly line. I’ve done those jobs and I respect the people who are good at them. For me, the happy
greeting from a customer’s dog or the generous offer of hot chocolate make the weather a minor problem.
As I get older, I more and more appreciate the opportunity to pass along some of what I’ve learned. Sure, scooping poop is not rocket science (although there is some Lab(rador) work involved. I’ve learned some things the hard way. I enjoy sharing those lessons with my employees and the rest of my Pet Butler family. They keep me fired up and teach me a thing or two in return. Teaching them allows me to keep a fresh approach and give something back. It’s another chance to serve a different community.
Any job worth doing is worth doing well. We may pick up dog poop, but we're the best at picking up dog poop. We work hard to make sure that's true. Besides, everybody takes a little crap in their job. Come quitting time, we throw ours off the truck and call it a day."
Pete Hulse is the franchise owner of Pet Butler of Central Ohio. His experience, and that gray beard, have earned him recognition as a Grand Old Man in the scooping community. He enjoys life in Columbus, OH with his wife, Hewitt, and Ruby the WonderBeagle.