UNION COUNTY — Picking up dog poop is dirty business, but someone’s got to do it.

Luckily for Union County pet owners there’s now someone who is willing to do the job for you. Tanner Lee, of La Grande, recently launched Poop Trooper — a pet waste removal service. His ideal customer? Anyone with a dog.

“I think it’s a really big chore. When you have two or more dogs it’s a lot of work to keep up with,” Lee said.

So far, the reaction from the community has been mixed. When Lee tells some people about the business they just laugh or ask if that’s really a thing, but he said that doesn’t bother him and the people who need the service understand.

“The actual people that sign up are very happy,” Lee said. “My first customer was someone who had surgery and they were physically unable to do it.”

Poop Trooper eliminates the burden of pet waste removal from those who might struggle with it, according to Lee. It can be especially helpful for older adults and people with disabilities or mobility issues.

While no one enjoys stepping in dog poop, Lee pointed out that it is an environmental hazard in this line of work. If the pet waste is left outside and it rains, the poop could end up in water runoff.

The job also has allowed him to stay close to home. Prior to starting Poop Trooper, Lee was doing commercial fishing in Alaska, which meant he would be away for two and a half months. Lee said the fishing wasn’t bringing a lot of proceeds, plus he and wife, Esther, recently welcomed their third child into the world.

“Being away … it was hard on everyone,” he said.

The pair have another business — Lee Signs and Banners — which is going well. Lee said his wife can handle most of that work, so he was looking for something to do in his free time when the idea for Poop Trooper came to him.

Poop Trooper has residential and commercial offerings.

On the residential side, Lee offers a membership where customers can choose from a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleaning. He also provides one-time cleaning services, which he believes will be a popular option in the spring since the snow can make it more difficult to scoop poop in the winter.

On the commercial side of business, Poop Trooper installs pet waste stations, which include a dispenser for dog poop bags and a trash can where owners can toss the used bags. These can be popular choices at apartment complexes or schools. Lee empties the trash cans and keeps the dispenser full.

Residential services are only available in Union County, but commercial services are available for Union and the surrounding counties.

Whether the poop is scooped by Lee in someone’s yard or picked up from one of the waste stations, it’s double bagged and taken to Waste Pro.

“I’ve been in contact with (Waste Pro) and they’re fine with it. It’s double bagged, so it’s no problem with them,” he said.

Serving the community also is important to Lee. He served in the Army for two years on active duty, so Lee offers a 15% discount for active military, veterans and first responders. He wants to help out “the people who are taking care of us.”

For information about pricing or to learn more about Poop Trooper’s offerings, check out https://pooptrooper97.com/.

Starting a membership or scheduling a service can be done online, but owner Tanner Lee can also be reached via email at pooptrooper97@gmail.com or on the phone at 541-805-9762.