Do You Still Need Dog Poop Pickup in Winter? How Snow Season Works in the Valley

It is the most common question we get in November: once the yard is under snow, is there any point in keeping a weekly scooping service? The short answer is yes. Snow hides dog waste, it does not get rid of it. Here is why winter service matters in the Roaring Fork Valley and how it actually works.

What happens to dog waste under snow

In warm months, waste slowly breaks down and dries out. In winter it does not. Cold temperatures stop that process almost completely, so every pile freezes and stays exactly as it was. A new snowfall covers it, the dog goes on top of the new snow, the next storm covers that, and the layers stack up all season.

Then comes the thaw. In a few warm days the snow pulls back and the whole winter shows up at once, along with the smell and the runoff. In Aspen and Snowmass Village, where snow lingers into late spring, that can be four or five months of waste surfacing in a single week.

How weekly scooping works in snow

We keep the same weekly day through the winter. On each visit we:

• Pick up everything on top of the snow and in the shoveled areas your dog uses most.
• Clear around the doors, decks and paths where waste gets tracked inside.
• Latch and photograph the gate so you know the dog is secure.
• Let you know if heavy snow or ice makes part of the yard unsafe to work that week.

Most dogs go in the same few spots once the snow is deep, so winter visits are focused and quick. What gets buried between visits comes out at the first thaw, and for weekly clients we come back for it at no extra charge.

What about storms and ice?

We work in most weather. If a storm drops a lot of snow on your service day, or a yard is iced over and unsafe, we may shift the visit by a day and tell you ahead of time. Price stays the same: $22 a visit for one dog on a weekly plan, $5 more for each extra dog.

Can I pause for the winter instead?

You can. There is no contract and no fee to pause. But most clients who pause in December end up booking a large cleanup in spring, and it usually costs more than the visits they skipped. Keeping weekly service means spring is a normal visit, not a project.

Tips to make winter easier

• Shovel a dog spot. A small cleared area in a corner of the yard keeps waste in one place.
• Keep a path to the gate clear. It helps us reach the yard and keeps the gate from freezing open.
• Use pet safe ice melt. Rock salt is hard on paws. Look for products labeled pet safe near doors and paths.
• Wipe paws at the door. Snow, salt and anything else on the ground comes inside with them.

Bottom line

Winter scooping keeps the yard usable, keeps waste from getting tracked inside, and makes the spring thaw a non event. If you want weekly winter service anywhere from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, send us your address and we will text you a price the same day.