Every year about this time crocuses and daffodils pop their heads up through the soil. Robins start showing up in huge flocks to snatch worms drawn to the earth’s warming surface. And, people — children and adults — start playing on Vashon Park District fields. Or, as some would express it — sliding into home base with one eye on the dirt.

Yes, it’s time again for Vashon Park District’s annual appeal to dog owners to pick up after their pets. Most of our parks are currently “dog friendly.” And most everybody on Vashon likes dogs. But dog poo isn’t friendly, and nobody wants to slip in it or clean it off their sporting children.

It’s a simple matter. Our dog-friendly parks all have “poo stations” equipped with plastic bags for picking up dog dirt, and there are plenty of garbage cans for disposing of the poo. All it requires is a sincere wish to be a good neighbor and a moment’s attention to your dog’s business.

Keeping parks and fields free of dog poo is just part of being a dog owner. If you simply imagine your own child or your neighbor’s child … or your neighbor … spoiling a good time by sliding through poo, you’ll pick it up cheerfully.

So, we invite you to free yourself of poo-guilt and face your neighbors with your head held high knowing that you’ve done the right thing: PLEASE pick up the poo.

— Susan McCabe is the program coordinator for the Vashon Park District.