Did you know that there is a trade organization for professional pooper scoopers? Of course there is. It’s called aPaws or the Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists. And yes, Scoop Masters is a member of that association. In fact, I’m one of 11 of the original founders. So, what do we need a trade organization for anyways? Read on and find out.
Where it all Started
Back in the day, at the dawning of the internet, there was no real way to refer people or even find them. There was no YELP, no Facebook, no Angie’s List. But there were message boards. If you’re old like me, you remember them. You would ask a question and hope that someday, someone would answer it. And when a customer would move out of a service area, we owners wanted a way to find other scooping companies to service them. However, we didn’t just want just anyone to scoop poop for them. We wanted a reputable, reliable company that was a legitimate business with insurance, to service our former clients.
That’s where aPaws came in. A company had to pay a membership fee, and provide their business liability insurance information in order to become a member and be listed in the Pooper Scooper directory. aPaws was founded in 2002 and for several years potential clients would contact the board and confirm if someone was a member or not. Several times, a company was not, even though they advertised it on their website. The potential client would thank us and tell us that they preferred an active member, and we would direct them to one in their area.
When I started Scoop Masters pet waste removal service back in 1988, there was no such service available. In fact, there were no practical home computers available yet. Everything was done by hand. So, 13 years later when a handful of scoopers decided to form an organization, I joined in. That was 2001 in good ol’ Las Vegas!
A Pooper Scoop Convention?
Fast forward a couple of years and we decide to have a convention of pooper scoopers in 2004. A time where professional pooper scoopers could gather and learn how to better run our businesses and basically talk crap all weekend. Yes, I can say crap in this business. That’s part of the fun of running a pooper scooper business for over 38 years. Not only did we get to learn from each other, we also brought in different speakers to teach us different aspects of running a business. We’ve had marketers, debt collectors, inspirational speakers, Google AdWords specialists, and just about any other dog related professional you could think of.
One of my favorites, was a dog handler who spoke about reading dogs and looking for signs of aggression. He grabbed a volunteer, dressed him up in all the protective gear, and had a German Shepherd attack him. That was fun to watch. Andy didn’t have as much fun as he mentioned years later that he was still a little sore from the demonstration. Then there’s the Turd Herding contest.
What in the World is Turd Herding?
As message boards grew, so did the controversy as to the best method of scooping poop. Some used a custom-made paddle, shovel and a bucket, like me. Others used a giant lobby pan and a rake. While others used their gloved hands and other strange contraptions. This led to what we call, The Turd Herding Contest! See who could pick up the most turds in the fastest time. We would use real poops, then mashed up dog food to fake turds, and what we use today, sliced potatoes. It was serious business back then. There would be prize money donated by different scooping companies. More recently, beautiful acrylic trophies and bragging rights are the prize.
Another thing that grew over the years was attendance. Our first meeting in Bend Oregon in 2004 had a whopping 5 attendees. Mostly because it was snowed out. The next one had about 20, then in 2007 we had over 50 in attendance. Of course, most of them ended up gambling instead of attending the seminars. In recent years we are closer to 100 in attendance. It just goes to show you how much the industry has grown over the years.
There is an estimated 1800 plus pooper scooper companies in the U.S. as of 2025 and the number keeps growing. It may have taken over 35 years to get there, starting with only 5 known in 1988. Scoop Masters Los Angeles being one of them. The original Pet Butler in Columbus, Ohio being another. It’s difficult to determine real numbers pre-internet, but these are just estimates.
What this all Means
If you’ve read this far, you are probably intrigued or at the very least, bored. Suffice it to say that the whole purpose of writing this we to inform you that there are several professional, and not so professional, pooper scooper companies to choose from. We hope you choose us if we service your area. And if not, please do some research before you simply price shop. We all doo that at one time or another. (Yeah, I said doo)
If the prices are too much lower than the standard rate in your area, chances are they are not insured or pay taxes. At Scoop Masters, every location has actual employees, every vehicle is insured with the proper commercial insurance, and we pay all payroll taxes. We pride ourselves in being able to provide a higher-than-average living wage so our team members can take care of their families. This may result in slightly higher rates than some companies. If you decide to price shop, that’s OK too. Scoop Masters will be here when you need us.
Scoop Masters offers professional dog waste removal services in California, Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. Since 1988, we’ve saved dog owners across the country from the overly unpleasant task of picking up after their pets. Each poopy project we complete gives them the freedom, convenience, and sanitation they deserve! Contact us for a free quote, or simply stock up on enough dog poop bags to keep your pet’s number twos at bay. To stay in the loop, follow up on Facebook and Twitter/X. If your dog can poop it, we can scoop it!