Last week, I was happy to be on the walking rotation for Misty, my friends' sweet golden retriever, when they were out of town. But I had forgotten how different clean up is for dogs vs. cats. With cats, the poop hopefully is waiting for you in the litter box. With dogs, you gotta scoop on the go, with an eager retriever towing you like a water skier.

The Dispoz-A-Scoops that Misty's family left for me made it a breeze. Manufactured by a South Florida company, it's a small plastic bag with a wire around the one end and a cardboard handle. Flip it open, hang onto the cardboard and you can scoop with ease, then toss it in the trash.

My friends' Davie neighborhood has Dispoz-A dispensers, stocked with bags, scattered along its main walking trail, and manufacturer Microlene told me most of their business comes from condo and homeowner associations. You can get scoops direct from Microlene - although you have to buy 500 for $146. A more convenient option is to pick up a 24-pack at PetSmart for $10.99.

I know these contraptions are more expensive than some other poop patrol equipment mentioned in an Angie post last week (where I was so glad to see people enjoying getting our newspaper at home if, for nothing else, it comes wrapped in a potential great poop bag.) But you might want to treat yourself to a Dispoz-A-Scoop.