She Hopes to Clean Up on Dog Owners

LIVERMORE, Calif. —  Leslie Strippel is doggone pleased about having one of the 10 worst jobs in America. She’s a professional “dog doer.”

She found her career culling canine “calling cards” in a magazine article on the country’s worst jobs. Included, along with such tasks as coal mining, was the story of a Midwestern gentleman who works as a paid pooper scooper.

Strippel, a 28-year-old graphic artist and single mother who lost her job in August, thought an area full of pups and posies should be fertile ground for a similar service.

“It sounded like a crazy business,” she said before tackling her first assignment--cleaning up after “Reagan,” a shepherd-Doberman mix who resides with the Beer family.

‘No Dog Too Big’

“But then I thought to myself: ‘How much does it take? Just a little bit of get-up-and-go.’ ”

She started advertising--wearing a sweat shirt with “No Dog Too Big” printed in block letters and putting leaflets everywhere, including on windshields of parked cars.

The leaflets suggest a once-a-week cleanup for a one-dog yard at $12 a month, but Strippel said she’ll come more often, at $3 a visit.

Her tools are a couple of rakes, a shovel and a plastic-lined fishnet. The service includes disposal off the premises.

The response so far has been slow, but Strippel hopes it will eventually support her full-time. “If I can make this business go, I’ll forget working for somebody else,” she said.

Cares for Children

Barbara Beer, who provides day care to around 12 children and likes to keep things neat and sweet-smelling, watched as Strippel raked Reagan’s gravel smooth.

“I was always on my son to do this,” she said. “It’s worth it to me to have it done. He didn’t manicure the yard to what it needs.”

Strippel has a sense of humor about her job, but she’s serious about it, too. She’s an animal lover, and sees her work as a way of keeping animals comfortable and healthy. “If you don’t really care, it gets to be just another job. I’ll be glad to do anything that deals with that end of the animal,” she said.