Picking up the Poo

The other morning I was making myself a cup of coffee in our kitchen. I noticed a man outside our back door, and I realised he was picking up his dog's poo. I was so astonished I popped my head out the door, despite the fact I was still in pyjamas and dressing gown, and thanked him. He was at first as astonished as me, and responded to my thanks with the very French 'mais c'est normale!' ('it's only natural'). I assured him it was not normal, and pointed out the two day old dog poos within a couple of metres of where his dog, an aged shaggy spaniel type, had chosen. He told me wryly that if they had spent as much time in French campgrounds as he had the owners would have learned to pick up their dog poo too.