An L.A. street artist is transforming piles of neglected dog poop into small works of social criticism. Locals report that for the past few weeks, piles of feces lining the streets have been adorned with tiny white flags that feature brief messages.
LA poop flagger leaves messages for irresponsible dog owners
Each of these “dog poop flags” contains an individual, resentful message aimed at irresponsible pet owners who do not clean up after their animals. One flag reads, “Get therapy,” another exclaims, “Must be nice to be such a lazya**.” “Why get a dog, then?” questions a third.
The identity of the L.A. poop flagger remains unknown, but locals are starting to view them as a neighborhood hero. These individuals, who live near the trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard — just a short distance from Venice Beach, are expressing their admiration for this quirky vigilante.
“I have no idea who it is, zero clue,” commented Ava Carpentier, a local resident and dog owner. “It’s brilliant. I think it’s hysterical. I’d like to shake the hand of the person who’s doing it.”
The dog poop flags that have emerged over recent weeks share a unique, uniform style: white paper with stark messages penned in black marker. On Monday, a Guardian journalist highlighted five different flags, each placed on decomposing piles of dog waste. Some flags carry direct pleas like “Pick. Up. Your. Poop!!” while others employ a more passive-aggressive tone: “Life is hard if you can’t afford poop bags.”
Who is putting flags in dog poop?
Based on the handwriting, some speculate that it’s likely the work of a single individual, but little else is known.
The issue of dog feces in public spaces, such as parks and neighborhoods, has escalated in various parts of the world. This was possibly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as dog adoptions surged.
There’s an alarming prevalence of fecal bacteria on New York City’s streets, researchers caution. This upsurge in dog waste could be detrimental to natural habitats.
