Short answer: Yes, we come to South County. Tidy Tails serves Crestwood, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Mehlville, Sunset Hills, and the surrounding neighborhoods. Weekly dog poop pickup starts at $70/month. No contracts. Text us to start.
South St. Louis County has some of the most dog-friendly streets in the entire metro — from Kirkwood's shaded sidewalks to the quiet cul-de-sacs of Crestwood and the walkable neighborhoods of Webster Groves. Dog ownership here is high. Leash laws are enforced. And the question we keep hearing is: "Is there anyone reliable doing this around here?"
We're going to be honest about the landscape. There are a handful of pet waste companies operating in the region, but consistent coverage in South County specifically has been hit or miss. Some franchises cherry-pick the densest routes. Some solo operators cover only their immediate zip code. If you've ever had a service cancel on you, ghost you, or just quietly stop showing up — you're not alone.
Tidy Tails is locally-owned. We're not a franchise with a thousand zip codes on paper and nobody to actually drive them. We're in South County, we text you before every visit, and we send a yard photo when we're done. This article explains who we are, what the service looks like, what it costs, and what to look for if you're shopping around.
South County: High Dog Density, Under-Served by Waste Removal
Here's something worth knowing: South St. Louis County has one of the highest concentrations of single-family homes with fenced yards in the entire metro area. That's a good thing — it means dogs have space to run. It also means waste accumulates fast, especially in yards under a quarter acre where a single medium-sized dog can leave over 700 deposits per year.
The national pet waste removal franchises have always been less focused on South County compared to, say, the I-64 corridor or Clayton. The reason is route math — it's harder to cluster a large number of stops in a geographically spread-out area. As a result, the local operators who used to fill that gap have either grown, gotten overwhelmed, or stopped operating entirely.
What that leaves is a real service gap. Dog owners in Kirkwood, Crestwood, Webster Groves, and Mehlville are either doing it themselves, paying way too much for inconsistent service, or going without.
🏘️ Crestwood
63126Established neighborhoods with mature trees, fenced yards, and active dog ownership. Watson Road corridor, Whitecliff Park area, and residential streets throughout. One of our active service territories.
🏘️ Kirkwood
63122Dense residential neighborhoods near Kirkwood Park, downtown Kirkwood, and Meramec River. Lots of walking traffic. Dog-friendly community with a strong local ethos. Great fit for regular service.
🏘️ Webster Groves
63119Some of STL's most walkable neighborhoods, close to Webster University. Older homes with character, smaller to mid-sized yards. Dog ownership here is very high per household.
🏘️ Mehlville
63125Larger residential tracts south of Lemay Ferry. More square footage per lot than the inner-ring suburbs, but busy schedules mean yards still pile up. Growing client base for Tidy Tails.
We also serve Sunset Hills (63127), Brentwood (63144), Maplewood (63143), Grantwood Village, and the residential neighborhoods near the I-270/I-55 interchange. If you're not sure whether we cover your street, just text us the address — (314) 850-7140 — and we'll confirm.
What Dog Poop Removal Actually Looks Like
If you've never used a service before, here's the basic flow:
You text us to sign up
Just your address, the number of dogs, and which day works for your route. We don't need much to get started. No online form, no credit card on file before the first visit.
We confirm your first service date
You'll get a text confirmation with the day and a rough arrival window. We typically run consistent weekly days per neighborhood so you'll know when to expect us.
Day-of: you get a "on my way" text
30–60 minutes before we arrive, you get a heads-up. This lets you unlock the gate, move your car if needed, or just know we're coming. Almost no other service in STL does this.
We clean the entire yard
We walk the full yard, check corners and under decks — every spot your dog uses. Waste is bagged and taken with us. We never leave it in your trash or on the curb.
You get an "all done" text + yard photo
This is the one thing customers mention most in reviews. A photo of your clean yard, sent immediately after we're done. You don't have to wonder if we came. You know. And you have a picture.
The whole process takes us 10–20 minutes depending on yard size and dog count. You're not home, we're not bothering you, and by the time you're back from work your yard is clean.
Why South County Yards Get Overlooked (And What to Do About It)
The most common thing we hear when we start with a new South County customer is some version of: "I didn't think this was even a thing around here."
It's a reasonable assumption. Pet waste removal has historically been concentrated in the denser suburbs north and west of the city — Florissant, Maryland Heights, St. Peters. The south side gets fewer mailers, less Marketplace activity, less Nextdoor chatter about it.
But the demand is exactly the same. If you have two dogs and a fully fenced quarter-acre yard, the math doesn't care what county you live in. That's roughly 1,400+ deposits per year to deal with. Some of our customers in Kirkwood and Webster Groves were literally googling "does anyone do this south of 44?" before they found us.
🧮 The Math That Convinced Our Crestwood Customers
Two dogs. Weekly service. $75/month. That's about $2.50/day — less than a small coffee. The alternative is 20–30 minutes of unpleasant yard work every single week, or a yard your family avoids using. Most customers say the math clicked immediately once they did it that way.
Pricing for South County Dog Waste Removal
Our pricing is flat. No per-visit fees, no seasonal surcharges, no "travel fee" because you're in South County. One monthly rate, same every month.
| # of Dogs | Weekly Service | Biweekly Service | One-Time Cleanup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 dog | $70/month | $45/month | $60 flat |
| 2 dogs | $70/month | $50/month | $70 flat |
| 3 dogs | $80/month | $60/month | $85 flat |
| 4+ dogs | $90/month | $70/month | Contact us |
No contracts. If you need to pause for vacation or a life event, you just text us. Most customers have been with us since their first month because the service is easy and consistent — not because they're locked in. We'd rather earn your business every month than trap you in a contract.
How We Compare to Other Options
| Service | Flat Monthly Rate | Local + Personal | Yard Photo | Pre-Visit Text | No Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidy Tails | ✓ $70–90/mo | ✓ Local, owner-operated | ✓ Every visit | ✓ 30–60 min ahead | ✓ Month-to-month |
| National Franchise | ✗ Per-visit pricing | ✗ Corporate, distant | ✗ Not standard | ✗ Varies | ✗ Often annual contracts |
| DIY Weekly | $0/month | — | — | — | — |
| Craigslist / Solo Op | Varies | ✗ No track record | ✗ Unlikely | ✗ Unlikely | ✓ Usually |
The comparison that sticks for most people is the national franchise model. The big names in pet waste removal charge per visit — which sounds fine until you realize you're paying $18–22 per visit × 4 visits/month = $72–88/month with no consistency and no local accountability. Our flat rate is lower, and you're texting an actual local person when you have a question.
Spring Is the Worst — And the Best Time to Start
If you're in Kirkwood, Webster Groves, or Crestwood right now in late March or early April, you know exactly what's happening: the snow is gone, the grass is thawing, and everything that accumulated over the winter is now visible. Multiple dogs. Multiple months. All at once.
This is actually the most common time people start with us — not because of a clever promotion, but because the yard just forced the issue.
The good news: one-time spring cleanup visits are available if you want to start with a clean slate before setting up recurring service. We come once, clear out everything, and then you decide if you want us back weekly. No pressure either way. Lots of people who start with a spring cleanup end up staying because the weekly service just makes their life easier.
"I'd been putting it off for three years. Finally called after a neighbor recommended them and I was honestly annoyed it took me that long. Two dogs in a small yard — it's just not sustainable to do it yourself. They're prompt, they text, and the yard photo is genuinely satisfying."— Crestwood customer, 3 dogs, weekly service
"My kids kept tracking stuff in from the back yard and I could not keep up with it anymore. These guys are in and out in 15 minutes every week and I never think about it again. Totally worth it."— Kirkwood customer, 1 dog, weekly service
Is Pooper Scooper Service Worth It? An Honest Take
Not for everyone. Here's a direct answer:
It's worth it if you have 2+ dogs, a full-time job or kids, a yard you actually want to use, or you've been meaning to "deal with it" for more than two weeks in a row. The time-and-stress math works in your favor at that point.
It's probably not worth it if you have one small dog, a tiny yard, lots of free time, and genuinely enjoy being in your backyard with a bag. Some people do. More power to them.
For the rest — which is most of our South County customers — the $70/month is genuinely one of the easiest household decisions they've made. It's the kind of thing where once you start, you don't understand why you waited.
Frequently Asked Questions — South County Edition
Is there a pooper scooper service in Crestwood, MO?
Yes — Tidy Tails serves Crestwood (63126) with weekly dog waste removal starting at $70/month for 1-2 dogs. We're not a franchise, we're a local owner-operated service based in the St. Louis area. Text (314) 850-7140 to confirm your address and get started.
Do you serve Kirkwood or Webster Groves for dog poop pickup?
Yes, Tidy Tails serves both Kirkwood (63122) and Webster Groves (63119). These are active parts of our South County route. Weekly service starts at $70/month. We send a text before every visit and a yard photo when we're done.
How much does dog waste removal cost in South County?
Tidy Tails charges a flat $70/month for weekly service for 1-2 dogs. That works out to about $2.30–$2.50 per day. Three-dog households are $80/month, and 4+ dogs are $90/month. No contracts, no per-visit billing, no hidden fees.
What if I just need a one-time spring cleanup?
We do one-time cleanups. It's $60–85 depending on yard size and dog count (quoted after you text us your info). A lot of customers start with a spring cleanup to clear out winter buildup and then continue with weekly service — but there's no pressure to sign up for recurring service after.
Do you need to be home when you come?
No. Most of our customers are at work when we come. We just need access to the backyard — either an unlocked gate or a gate code. We send a pre-visit text so you know we're on the way, and an "all done" text with a yard photo when we finish. You never have to be there.
My old pooper scooper service stopped coming. Can you take over?
Absolutely. We hear this a lot — services that started strong then gradually became unreliable or just stopped showing up. We'll pick right up. Text us your address, tell us how many dogs you have, and we'll set up a first visit. No awkward transition, no waiting period.
Do you service Mehlville and Sunset Hills?
Yes — Mehlville (63125) and Sunset Hills (63127) are both in our South County service area. If you're not sure about your specific address, text us at (314) 850-7140 and we'll confirm within the hour.
🐕 Ready to Start?
Text your address, dog count, and preferred day to (314) 850-7140.
First visit can usually happen within the week. No contracts. No fuss.
How to Get Started (It's Very Easy)
Here's exactly what to do if you want to try it:
- Text (314) 850-7140 with your address, number of dogs, and something like "interested in weekly service."
- We'll text back to confirm your address is in our route, give you a monthly rate, and pick a day of the week.
- We'll confirm your first visit date via text — usually within a few business days.
- On day one, you'll get a pre-visit text and a yard photo when we're done.
- That's it. Same day every week, same flat rate, no thinking about it.
You can also start a free first cleanup at tidytailsstl.com/free-cleanup if you want to see the service before committing to a monthly plan.
We're genuinely a small local operation. TJ and Jamie run this personally — if you text us, you're texting one of them. That's the kind of accountability you don't get from a franchise, and it's why our customers stick around.