worried about son pickin up dog poop

[mommyluv29]

MY SON IS 4 YRS OLD AND WHEN HE GOES TO HIS DADS HOUS EON THE WEEKEND HIS DAD MAKES HIM CLEAN UP DOG POOP THAT IS HIS ROOMATES DOG.IS THIS SAFE BECAUSE I PERSONALLY DONT THINK ITS SANITARY FOR A YOUNG CHILD TO PICK UP DOG POOP AND THERE ARE 3 ADULTS IN THAT HOUSE WHY ARE THEY HAVING A 4 YR OLD DO THE DIRTY JOB.I HAVE CONFRONTED HIM AND TOLD HIM HE NEEDS TO STOP AND TOLD MY 4 YR OLD THAT ITS NOT HIS JOB TO PICK UP AFTER ANOTHER PERSONS ANIMAL.I HAD BOUGHT MY CHILDREN A DOG 7 MONTHS AGO AND IM THE ONE WHO CLEANS UP THE POOP I JUST DONT THINK  ITS SANITARY FOR CHILDREN TO BE PICKIN UP POOP.
PLEASE HELP WITH THIS UNSETTLING QUESTION THATS BEEN DRIVIN ME CRAZY THAT HIS OWN DAD WOULD MAKE HIM DO THIS,GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[ginger899]

I hate to come in between you and his dad here, but while it's an excellent idea to teach a young child to be clean and act responsibly, giving him a job to do....I don't think this is advisable in this case. If totally supervised by an adult -throughout the picking-up, and hand washing afterwards(!) then ....maybe. Otherwise, a four year old can easily make a mistake, do something unhygienic, put his fingers into his mouth...etc.
It's not worth the risk. That's my opinion. There are some dangerous diseases easily caught, such as Toxocariasis.
Toxocariasis is an infection of the round worm Toxocara canis5. It is a disease that is spread via unwashed vegetables and dog feces. Young children in particular are at risk due to their weaker immune systems and because they are more likely to expose themselves by ingesting the eggs.

[lindapalm]

I agree, have your son take out the trash or something apropriate for his age, picking up poop isn't for a four year old.  Its a job the adults hate, and their dumping it on your son.