Letter writer: Don’t let litter go to the dogs

Graphic by Lori Deaton

As much as it disturbs me when I see the plethora of cigarette butts all over town, there may be one inconsiderate act that is even worse — chewing gum.

I work downtown and walk around quite a bit. Part of my job includes picking up litter, including cigarette butts and chewing gum. As many times as I’ve picked up chewing gum on my shoes, today, my dog picked it up on his front paw.

We stopped to get as much off that he’d be comfortable walking. He’s still working at getting it out between his pads and has been for quite some time now. I’ve put ice on it trying to harden it to little avail. Unfortunately for him, he has hair between his pads and the gum is firmly stuck to it.

As residents of Asheville, let’s be proud of our city and stop acting like cigarette butts and chewing gum are not litter — they are! Next time you think about throwing your gum on the ground (or tossing your cigarette butt out the window), think about some poor dog who cannot get it off of his paws (or may step on a hot cigarette butt).

— Doug Williams
Leicester

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3 thoughts on “Letter writer: Don’t let litter go to the dogs

    • Lulz

      LOL, but being obtuse does. Person complains about cig butts but doesn’t seem to comprehend that it’s the outcome of pushing smokers into the streets. You and the rest of these tools created and supported it in order to be “progressive”. And the LOL of it all, is going to get the same when garbage fees are introduced. But you’re too blind to see it lulz. You get what you deserve college girl.

  1. Yep

    unfortunately , such problems are indicative of the local mentality who really DON’T give a damn about the environment … the whole place stays trashed due to LOW IQ citizens…and those who LIKE to trash it for others to endure which is evil.

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