Dog walker cleared of scooping charge

FAIRFAX, Va., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- A Virginia dog walker facing a charge of failing to scoop poop was cleared by a Fairfax County jury.

Kimberly Zakrzewski of Fairfax, who had been accused in April by next door neighbors Virginia and Christine Cornell of failing to clean up after Baxter, a friend's dog she often walks, was cleared Tuesday of violating the county's "pooper scooper" law, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Zakrzewski said her neighbors had previously filed reckless driving charges against her, which were also thrown out by a jury.

"This case wasn't about whether I picked up after Baxter. It was about two women who wanted to harass me," Zakrzewski said after the verdict was read. "I can only hope this verdict will be the end of the harassment for me."

Michelle Berman, Baxter's owner, testified on behalf of Zakrzewski. She said the pile photographed by the Cornells was too large to have come from her Westie-bichon frise mix.