Xiao Bien and Da Bien
Pet ownership comes with responsibility. There is one obligation that my wife, daughter, and relatives all shun. They run the other way. That duty is to pick up and clean up after Toby meets his sanitary requirements: pees and poops, performs #1 and #2, does xiao bien and da bien (Chinese)—i.e., does his business.

In my previous article, I explained how excursions with Toby have been part of my recovery from a series of strokes I experienced three years ago. So I have not become stressed over this challenging task of picking up and cleaning up after Toby. I merely accept the inevitable, maintain a tranquil attitude, and find humor in it. After all, when you have to go, human or canine, you have to go.

Yard Visitors
Other dogs in the neighborhood like to visit our house. They think that our front yard is the Pacific, Atlantic, or some other ocean and they are submarines. They come by, launch their torpedoes, and then leave.

The Cover-up
When Toby goes on a walk, he often does his business on a grassy area off the street. By instinct, he takes a few steps forward and kicks the grass and dirt backwards with all four paws to cover up his business. He generally makes more than ten enthusiastic and furious kicks back. Grass and dirt go flying.

He kicks back so hard that he turns himself sideways, sometimes to more than 90 degrees. He often walks forward too far. He has actually only hit the spot once in his life. This has led to some interesting developments:

• Toby was so badly disoriented that after he did his #2 on a neighbor's lawn, he kicked grass and dirt onto the street far away from the spot. The neighbor watched this performance and said, "Thanks, Toby, for kicking my grass onto the street."

• He once kicked back so hard that he barreled between my legs and wrapped his leash around my foot.

• He and his brother Freckles were walking on the sidewalk in a city block. They both did their business there, and both tried to kick back the cement. Fortunately it was garbage day and I put the bags of #2 in someone's trash.

• Toby did a #2 on the snow in our yard this winter and he kicked back snow.

• Toby did a #2 on a neighbor's lawn. I latched Toby to a nearby bush and took out a green plastic bag to pick up the droppings. After I put my hand inside the bag, I heard a car coming by. It was the town police.

I instinctively waved to the officer as I stood up. My hand was already in the bag. That probably was pretty comical, but less so than if I did it after I had scooped up the #2. The cruiser zoomed by.

It was fortunate that I used a plastic bag instead of the deluxe version of poop-scooping tools—plastic gloves. If I had on a pair of plastic gloves, I could have been seen as a robber and Toby the lookout—in a marvelously clever disguise of a disabled man with a cane walking his dog.

• In many urban neighborhoods, trees grow in small squares of earth set within the cement sidewalks. These little patches of nature are very popular among the residents who take their dogs there to do their business.

Driving in the city, my wife and I saw a man standing near a tree. His dog was inside one of these valuable earth squares. There was a cloud of dust. Toby, sitting in the back of our station wagon, understood what was going on and barked at the dog.

• My wife and I stopped by a rest area along a highway. There was a pet rest area and I took Toby there. The “Pet Rest Area” sign should have had another line: “Watch Your Step.”

• I took Toby out for a walk one December day and he did his usual #2 on a neighbor's lawn. I pulled out a trusty plastic bag and bagged the #2. Not wanting to carry it around, I hung it up on a nearby bush to be picked up and disposed of on the return trip.

When we got back to that bush, the plastic bag was gone. I looked around and couldn't find it. Someone had walked off with it.

I didn't know the circumstances for the bag’s disappearance. Most likely, the neighbor, while out shoveling snow, disposed of it. I just hope that someone didn’t think it was a Christmas tree ornament.

Understanding
The town I live in does not have any supermarkets, so we have to drive to the neighboring town, where there's a supermarket and other shops in a plaza. Toby loves going there. In front of a bakery there's a landscaped area with bushes.

That’s where Toby and I were when a mom and her toddler emerged from the bakery and headed to their car. The toddler saw Toby and started slanting off course and walking toward us. She must have seen Toby as a cute ball of white and brown fur. Her mom glanced at Toby and explained, "That's a little doggie going to the bathroom."

The toddler understood and walked back with her Mom toward the car. I guessed she knew enough to give Toby some privacy, or maybe she did not want to come close to the odor. I cleaned up after Toby and we went on our merry way too.

Spring
My wife and I are looking forward to spring because we grow tomatoes, Chinese bitter melons, string beans, and other vegetables in an organic garden in the side yard. It is organic because of Toby’s regular contributions.

Conclusion
Whether digging up soil or picking up ‘Toby-brand’ fertilizer, I am learning to go green and maintain my stress level at all times.