I earn $30K a year just to scoop dog poop — my clients are accused of being ‘lazy,’ but they truly need my help
Kyle Newby, 39, is turning doo into dough by picking up dog poop -- a side hustle that he estimates nets him over $32,000 per year. Tom Maddick / SWNS
A UK father of four has found an unlikely way to turn dog waste into a profitable side business — earning more than $32,000 a year by cleaning up after pets.
Kyle Newby, 39, a builder from Derbyshire, launched his dog waste removal service, Pet Poo Pick, in March after noticing how popular similar businesses were in the United States.
“We were stunned — the customers just started rolling in,” Newby told South West News Service.
After spotting the trend on Instagram, Newby decided to test the idea locally. “It’s really big in America, so we thought we’d bring it to the East Midlands,” he said. With only a handful of similar services operating in the UK, he posted an ad on Facebook — and interest quickly followed.
Newby now has 35 regular customers, servicing about 15 properties on Wednesdays and 20 on Saturdays. He charges roughly $40 for an initial visit and $20 per week thereafter.
By his estimate, the business brings in about $2,680 per week, working out to nearly $60 an hour — more than he often earns on a full day at a construction site.
“On average, you’re picking up about 14 pieces of waste per garden,” Newby explained. “We use a scooper and a bag, and it takes about 10 to 15 minutes per visit.” Afterward, the area is disinfected to ensure nothing is left behind.
Newby says the job involves around four hours of driving and three hours of cleanup per day, sometimes traveling up to 50 miles to dispose of waste properly.
While some critics have complained that pet owners are becoming “lazy,” Newby says many of his customers physically cannot do the job themselves. “A lot are elderly or on crutches,” he said. “We’re helping people who genuinely need it.”
He also offers lawn-mowing services for customers with limited mobility.
One client, 48-year-old Peter Fisk, began using Pet Poo Pick after breaking his leg. “With the way my leg is, I’ll be using him for the rest of the year at least,” Fisk said. “Seeing him clean thoroughly afterward shows he really does a great job.”
Currently, Newby works about 12 hours a week on the business but hopes to expand it into a full-time venture.
Demand for similar services is growing elsewhere as well. In 2025, Washington Heights in New York City was named the most dog-waste-complaint-heavy ZIP code in the U.S., accounting for 160 of more than 1,600 complaints filed so far this year.
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