By Nick Reiher

We had a wonderful neighbor, aptly named Sam, who unfortunately passed away probably 10 years or so ago now.

Several times a day, we would see him walking his dog, Tia, a little bundle of fluff at the end of a leash. Sam would let her stop and sniff as many times as she liked, never pulling, just ambling as they walked blocks at a time.

Not only did this keep him looking 20 years younger, but he told me one time he had a big jug at home filled with change he picked up on their walks. He had to take it to the bank a couple times after it got to the top.

Our previous dog, Kayley, whom we also miss very much, and I used to take walks three times a day in the beginning. That got down to two or so, and only for a half mile at a time.

That was usually enough for her to return home less heavy and with filled only with vinegar.

But we never found any money. Broken glass. Beer cans. And more often than not, an item that has had me consternated for years.

They are called floss sticks; they look like a mini disc-thrower with a little floss strung between the prongs. I guess you use them when you want or need to floss, but have only one hand free, or if you want to achieve this more discreetly.

I’m not sure about the latter reasoning, because I see these things not only on dog walks, but everywhere, including random sidewalks and parking lots.

So much for discreet. A good friend one time used one at the table where we were dining. At least she had the courtesy to wrap in a napkin before placing it on her plate.

But still …

I have a friend who has been in code enforcement for decades. His sense of humor is surpassed only by his sense of duty.

Stephen often will post pictures he has taken on Facebook of blocked exits, which, of course, is a no no. Some are mind-boggling the way the perps have even made the blocked exits blend into the interior décor. Others just have cabinets, mops and buckets as impediments to preventing death.

Now obviously, wayward floss sticks likely would not be causing death or harm, I guess, unless you swallowed one. (Don’t do that)

And I would not even be bothered by it, let alone devote a column to it, if it were not so prevalent. Kind of like when I see “12 p.m. or 12 a.m.” Wrong, wrong, wrong. But it will be right soon because that’s what happens when you keep using or saying stuff that’s wrong.

So, what, people see floss sticks strewn about and think to themselves, “OK, that must be how you dispose of them.”? I would certainly hope that’s not the directive listing on the package that contains dozens of these things.

Google sent me to their new partner, AI, (Not the steak sauce company), and they said floss sticks are not biodegradable and should be thrown in the garbage. More environmentally friendly options, such as wooden toothpicks, can be used, but they can take a long time to break down.

Curious, I went back to Google and the non-steak sauce company to find the directions for using a floss stick. There are You Tube videos that show you how to use them. What to do if they get caught. How to rinse them after cleaning each between each tooth.

Nothing on throwing them away in the garbage afterward, leaving it only to common sense to continue good hygiene by not becoming a litterbug.

So, we’re screwed.

Nick Reiher is editor of Farmers Weekly Review.