Spill it: David Jacks, owner of Scoop-N-Doo

David Jacks takes care of business. Not just his business, Scoop-N-Doo, but dog business, sometimes cat business, every so often potbelly pig, llama or even horse business.

That’s right. David cleans up poop. So what’s he got to say about this potentially “crappy” job? Does it stink as bad as some people might think? Not quite.

When did you get the idea for Scoop-N-Doo?

Back in 1994 when I was with a friend on a camping trip. The boat motor broke down, and we were floating for six or seven hours and reminiscing about old friends. So I asked what one of our friends was up to, and he was picking up waste and doing pretty good.

Why did that sound like something you would want to do?

I’d never heard of it before, and I was thinking about doing something that not everyone else was doing.

What’s the best thing about this job?

I have the flexibility to work my schedule the way I want to work it. If I want to go to my kids’ activities, I quit early or adjust. I can manage to give myself several three- or four-day weekends. The downfall is that I can’t take week- or two-(week)long vacations.

The worst part?

Not having peers or the social aspect with people. I don’t have anyone to communicate with all day.

How do people respond when you tell them what you do?

It depends on the person. For some people, it just clicks right away and they’re like, “Wow! What a good idea!” Then some say, “Why would you do that? What a crappy job.” Some people are surprised that people would actually pay me to do this.

How did your family respond when you told them your idea?

My wife was pregnant at the time, and she was a little worried. She said, “You’re going to quit your full-time job to do what?” My dad was positive from the beginning.

What drives you crazy about this job?

Sometimes the feeding habits of the owners are bad. I’m not saying go out and buy the best food, because people do that, but they feed them way more than they need.

The cheap food does make it worse, though. Canned food comes out nasty, and I can tell if dogs are fed scraps, too.

Is it easier to clean up after big dogs or little dogs?

Big dogs produce a lot. On the other hand, the small toy dogs are hard to find, so it might be easier to clean up after a Great Dane because you can see it from farther away.

What’s your goal?

I thought I could explode and hire on a couple of people, but that’s not really my end goal. I just want to make enough to pay the bills, live well and take care of the family. I don’t want to dedicate my life to work. Family comes first.