👋 Hey from Brandon
August in Orange County is deceptive. The mornings feel manageable, then the afternoon hits and everything — flies, fleas, foxtails — kicks into high gear. This is the month I get the most “how do I keep the bugs down?” questions, so let’s tackle it head-on.
🌱 Season’s Yard Tip: Mow a little higher, and clear the edges
Fleas and foxtails both love the same thing: tall, dry, unmanaged grass along fences and flowerbeds. Two easy moves this month — keep your mower blade a notch higher (2.5–3 inches) so the lawn holds moisture and shades out weeds, and knock down the dry brush and cheatgrass along the edges of your yard. Those weedy borders are where foxtails dry out and go rogue. And of course, keeping waste picked up daily removes a prime flea-breeding zone right at the source.
🐾 Pup Health Corner: The after-walk foxtail check
Foxtails are those barbed, arrow-shaped grass seeds that turn up all over OC’s dry hills and trails this time of year. They don’t just stick to fur — they burrow, and they only move one direction: in. Left alone, they can work into paws, ears, noses, and skin and land you at the vet. Build a 30-second habit after every hike or trail walk: run your hands between the toes, check inside the ears, look at the armpits and groin, and give the coat a quick comb. While you’re at it, this is peak flea and tick season too — ask your vet about prevention if you’re not already on a plan, and check the warm spots (behind ears, base of tail) where they like to hide.
📍 Around OC: Patios where the dogs outnumber the people
When it’s too warm for a midday hike, a shady patio is a solid plan B. A few OC favorites that genuinely welcome dogs:
Green Cheek Beer Company (Costa Mesa) — big covered patio, water bowls out, and it’s a short walk from the Costa Mesa Bark Park.
Salty Bear Brewing Co. (Costa Mesa) — one of the most dog-packed patios in OC; your pup will have friends.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar (Irvine) — right in the name; they bring water bowls to the patio and even have a dog menu.
Go early evening when the pavement’s cooled off, and bring water for the walk over.
⭐ Featured Pup: Nala from Newport Beach
Nala is a rescue pit mix with, in her mom’s words, “the softest heart and the muddiest paws in Newport.” She’s a regular at the dog beach and comes home covered in sand — which her family says is a small price for how happy she is. We keep her backyard clean so the sand’s the only mess they deal with. 🧡
Want your pup featured? Reply with a photo and a line about them.
🚚 From Brandon’s Truck
Found three foxtails tucked in the grass along a fence line in Irvine this week while scooping — pulled them before they found the client’s dog. It’s not technically in the job description, but if I spot a hazard in your yard, I’m going to deal with it. That’s just how we run.
👉 One quick thing
Happy with your service? Tell a neighbor. The best compliment you can give us is a referral — and it helps another OC yard get cleaned up too. If you know someone drowning in summer landmines, send them our way at ocpoopscoop.com or have them text (714) 831-5855. We’ll take great care of them.
Keep checking those paws after every hike — August is prime foxtail season.
— Brandon
OC Poop Scoop · (714) 831-5855
Mon–Fri 7:30am–6pm · Sat 7:30am–3pm
Veteran-Owned & Family-Run · Serving Irvine, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Coto de Caza & surrounding OC
P.S. Referrals are how a small local business like ours grows. Thank you for spreading the word — it genuinely means a lot.