SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - In a slumping economy with millions of unemployed workers, one North County man is laughing all the way to the bank with a job nobody wants.
Equipped with a bucket, shovel and hoe, meet Rob Fox, professional pooper scooper. The holidays are over, but he is still searching for presents in your backyard.
"If it can be stepped in, it will be stepped in," he said.
Before you turn up your nose, it takes special skills to profit on poop, like spotting those camouflaged clumps.
"I always say it's easy to pick it up, but it's hard to find it," he joked.
Rob's booming backyard business Scoops now includes 75 happy customers. Lance McKay has three dogs and children who refuse to do the dirty work.
"My kids wouldn't do it for what he does it for, I'm not kidding," he said.
For $60 a month, Rob will visit your yard once a week. And because he uses recycled plastic bags that he gets for free, keeping a low overhead is a slam dunk. He even hands out a flyer with frequently asked questions. For example, yes, he works in the rain. We also had some questions of our own.
Which dog breeds are the worst offenders?
"Oh, labs and retrievers, they are poop machines," he said.
What's the biggest job hazard?
"Spider webs," he said.
What's the toughest day of the year?
"The week after Thanksgiving is hell," he said.
And finally, any fun facts from four years on the job?
"Dogs poop more when the moon is big, before and after a full moon, than when it's small. My bucket's fuller," he said.
And so are his pockets. Rob owns a flyer distribution business, so scooping poop is his side job that pays him $3,500 a month.
Even on his worst days, he's only a dog treat away from a wagging tail.
Rob says the secret to never losing a dog is double-checking the latch on each gate as he leaves.
Scoops Pooper Scooper Service
1-888-YO-SCOOP or 1-888-967-2667