A man in the UK has found an unconventional side job – cleaning up pet dog feces for others. Working only 12 hours per week, he is able to earn over $30,000 annually, surpassing his full-time job in the construction industry.
According to a report by the Birmingham Mail on January 18, Kyle Newby, a 39-year-old man residing in Derbyshire, launched a similar service locally last March through social media advertisements, capitalizing on the growth of dog waste cleanup services in the United States.
Newby charges £30 (approximately $40) for the initial service to customers, followed by a weekly fee of £15 (around $20). Currently, he cleans up the dog waste left in the gardens by 35 clients on Wednesdays and Saturdays, totaling 12 hours of work per week, which amounts to an annual income of £24,000 (approximately $32,282).
Most of Newby’s clients are elderly or disabled individuals who struggle to clean up after their pets. Out of his 35 regular clients, 20 are disabled persons.
He mentioned, “Many of them use walking sticks, so it is difficult for them to pick up the waste, and that is why we are here to help them.” Newby has expanded his services to include lawn mowing for some of his disabled clients.
He added, “Some people have difficulties dealing with overgrown grass, so now we provide lawn mowing service for those who are unable to do it themselves.”
Newby starts by collecting the dog feces with a shovel, then uses disinfectants to eliminate any stains, ensuring the area is thoroughly clean. He admitted that his income from cleaning dog waste in a day surpasses what he can earn in 10 hours on a construction site. Although it is a side job, he aims to expand the business this year.
He has received mixed reviews from customers, with some criticizing them for being lazy. Newby clarified, “Not every dog owner is capable of cleaning up after their pets. For those who complain, imagine if their mother had difficulty moving around and couldn’t clean up dog poop, then I would be their ideal choice because they would need our service at that time.”
Newby revealed that he spends about 10 to 15 minutes cleaning up dog waste in each garden. He spends approximately 4 hours driving per day, with only around 3 hours dedicated to cleaning up dog waste.
He emphasizes that he is helping customers maintain a clean environment. Being approved with a waste transportation permit, he operates his business legally.
One of Newby’s clients, Peter Fisk, has relied on him for help cleaning up dog waste since injuring his leg in December last year.
Fisk, 48, mentioned, “My leg is broken now, and with bad weather, I am afraid to go out for fear of slipping, so Newby has been a great help.”
He added, “I found him on Facebook. When the weather improves, I will ask him to help with some gardening work.”
Fisk also shared, “My knee is basically only half there, so I can’t put too much weight on it, limiting my movement, so I need help.”
According to the BBC, in March 2025, Newby co-founded the “Pet Poo Pick” company with a colleague in the construction industry. This company is one of the few providing such services in Derbyshire.
Newby’s first client was from Nottinghamshire. His adult children, residing in the US, informed him of such services available there, leading him to seek out Newby.
He explained that the collected dog waste is taken to a farm in Nottinghamshire and added to horse manure with the farm owner’s consent.
Newby joked, “Some people may laugh at me, but remember, it’s £15 per visit. If you have 100 clients in a month, you would surely be laughing all the way to the bank, wouldn’t you?”