Why We Designed Our Dog Poop Bags with Long Tie Handles
Quick answer: Zakity poop bags have two long tie handles so you can knot the bag closed and keep your hands farther from the mess, in a size that works for small dogs and very large dogs. They come in a soft green that blends in with the grass, they fit most standard dispensers, and every bag is printed with our mission, because 3% of every purchase (excluding shipping and taxes) goes to help shelter and rescue pets.
As Zakity founder Christina puts it: "When you're buying from Zakity, you're not just buying poop bags. You're actually helping shelter and rescue pets at the same time."
If you walk a dog, you know the moment. Your dog does their business, you pick it up, and then you're standing on the sidewalk trying to tie a knot in a bag with no handles, or handles so short there's barely anything to hold. Your fingers end up right next to what you just picked up, and there's nowhere to wash your hands until you get home.
That moment is where our poop bags started. Here's the story behind them, and why we sweated the small details.
Why long tie handles on dog poop bags?
We wanted people to feel comfortable tying the top of their bag shut.
So we gave every bag two long tie handles. Getting the length right is the thing we went back and forth on the most. As Christina explains: "We wanted to make sure the handles were the right length so that big hands, little hands, doesn't matter hands, could tie this comfortably." Long enough for a good knot, but not so long that they get in the way.
"Very easily. I just hold one handle in each hand and tie them in a knot. There's no reason to go back into the bag. With poop bags that don't have handles, it's very difficult to try to tie them, and then your hands end up very close to the mess."
Christina, Zakity founder
They were also hard to manufacture just right. Long handles are easy on a single bag. Long handles on bags that still come neatly on a roll and fit a dispenser took a lot more work. We think it was worth it.
One bag for small dogs and very large dogs
We also wanted a bag that could open wide when you need it to. Each bag is 14.5 inches tall and 6.75 inches wide lying flat, and the sides open out to 10.5 inches wide. That gives you room to spare whether you're walking a tiny dog or a very large one.
The bags are unscented and perforated between each one, so they tear off cleanly. A box holds 300 bags on 20 rolls of 15, and the rolls fit most standard poop bag dispensers.
Why green?
Not everyone wants to show off the fact that they're carrying a bag of their dog's mess down the street. So instead of a bright orange or a loud color, we chose a soft, neutral green that blends in with the grass and the world around you on a walk.
What's printed on every bag
Every Zakity bag carries our logo and our mission, between two little paw prints:
"Every walk. Every bag. Every pet helped. At Zakity, we believe in giving back. Thank you for helping make a difference in the life of a shelter pet."
We put it there on purpose. Every time you pull a bag out, we want you to remember that your purchase helped a shelter and rescue pet. It isn't just an ordinary box of poop bags.
The handles that stick out of the dispenser say zakity.com, too. That way, when you see someone else on a walk with a Zakity bag peeking out of their dispenser, you know they're part of the same mission you are.
A box that answers your questions
Have you ever bought a product and only found out after you opened it that the bags are too small, don't have handles, or don't fit your dispenser? We have, and we didn't want our customers guessing.
So we designed the box to answer your questions just by looking at it. It was just as important to us that the box shows that we give back to shelters and rescues. Poop bags are something almost every dog owner buys. We wanted that everyday purchase to help your dog and help a pet who doesn't have a home yet.
Why a coffee cup dispenser?
We tried several dispensers and fell in love with a little coffee cup. So many of us start the day with coffee or tea, and the dispenser looks a lot like the travel cups we already carry. It's cute, and it feels familiar.
We also wanted you to be able to see when you're running low. Most dog owners have a story about the walk when their dog went to the bathroom and they realized they were out of bags. With the Zakity coffee cup dispenser, you can glance down through the opening in the lid, the spot where you'd sip from a real travel mug, and see how many bags you have left before you head out. There's plenty of room to see the roll.
And we wanted to give you a choice. Many dispensers only have one opening. This one has two: you can pull a bag out through the lid or out of the side, whichever is easier for you in the moment.
We also didn't want a flimsy plastic clip. The carabiner is metal and easy to work with, and it clips onto your leash, belt loop, or bag.
A few other details:
- The lid screws off, so you can drop a new roll in from the top
- It comes with 1 roll (15 bags), and it fits Zakity rolls and most standard rolls
- It's about 3.3 inches tall and 2.4 inches wide
If your walks start or end in the dark this time of year, we put together what we carry and wear in how to walk your dog in the dark, including how we handle pickup at night.
Do your duty, help a cutie
Christina explains the slogan this way: "Sort of like it's your duty to pick up after your dog. But you're also helping a cutie when you purchase Zakity poop bags." 3% of the purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) supports shelter and rescue pets.
We're really proud of the community this brings together. As Christina puts it: "We are really proud of bringing together a community who otherwise may not have the ability to help shelter and rescue pets. But they can just by purchasing from us." And every time you see those green bags out on a walk, you'll know you're not the only one.
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Frequently asked questions
Do Zakity poop bags fit standard dispensers?
Yes. The bags come on rolls that fit most standard poop bag dispensers, as well as the Zakity coffee cup dispenser.
Do dog poop bags with handles come on a roll?
Zakity's do. Each box has 20 rolls of 15 bags, and the bags are perforated so they tear off the roll one at a time, long tie handles and all.
What size are Zakity dog poop bags?
Each bag is 14.5 inches tall and 6.75 inches wide lying flat, and the sides open out to 10.5 inches wide, so they work for small dogs and very large dogs.
How do you tie a dog poop bag with handles?
Hold one long handle in each hand and tie them together in a knot at the top of the bag, the way you'd tie a grocery bag. Long handles give you more to hold, which helps keep your fingers farther from the mess.
How do you attach a poop bag dispenser to a leash?
The Zakity coffee cup dispenser has a metal carabiner. Clip it onto your leash, a belt loop, or your bag.
How many bags come in a box?
300 bags: 20 rolls with 15 bags on each roll. The bundle adds the coffee cup dispenser with 1 more roll, for 315 bags in all.
Are Zakity poop bags scented?
No. Zakity poop bags are unscented.
What does "Do your duty, help a cutie" mean?
It's your duty to pick up after your dog. When you buy Zakity bags, you're also helping a cutie, because 3% of every purchase (excluding shipping and taxes) goes to help shelter and rescue pets.
Keep reading
- How to Walk Your Dog Safely in the Dark: The Christmas Tree Theory
- How Zakity Gives Back
- Dog Nail Care 101: The Quick, Black Nails, Puppies & FAQs
About the Founder: Christina is the founder of Zakity and has upwards of 40 years of hands-on animal care experience. Her work includes serving as a veterinary technician at a large veterinary referral hospital, working in animal shelters and rescue, conducting animal cruelty investigations for a nonprofit animal welfare organization, and educating pet owners on proper animal care, including as an adjunct professor. Christina founded Zakity to give pet owners better tools for caring for their animals confidently at home, and to give back to the shelters and rescues she is deeply passionate about supporting. 3% of the purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) supports shelter and rescue pets. Learn more at www.zakity.com.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian regarding specific health concerns or conditions affecting your pet.