Six-year-old Luca Aprin from Warwick, Rhode Island, has turned his love for animals into a profitable venture. His unique business, a dog waste collection service named “Poopa Scoopa Luca,” has allowed him to earn enough money to adopt a kitten from a local shelter. While the job may not be the most glamorous, Luca recognizes the importance of the service he provides.
Luca’s business model is simple. For a fee of $15, or $20 for households with multiple dogs, he cleans local yards of dog waste until they are spotless. Despite the nature of the job, Luca enjoys the work. “I love cleaning. It’s like one of my favorite things,” he shared.
The young entrepreneur’s journey began at a local animal shelter where his mother, Robyn Bouchard, is employed. Together, they have fostered or found homes for 98 rescue animals and counting. Luca’s dedication to the shelter is evident. “He is the first person to walk into the building, he’ll immediately start folding laundry. He’ll sweep and mop the floors,” Bouchard said.
During his time at the shelter, Luca met and fell in love with a kitten named Pebble. However, as a volunteer, he didn’t have the funds to cover the adoption fees or the expenses of owning a pet. This prompted him to ask his mother how he could raise money to adopt Pebble. The idea for “Poopa Scoopa Luca” was born from this conversation.
After a few weeks of diligent work, Luca had earned enough to bring Pebble home. His mother shared that Luca is already looking for more ways to earn money to help save even more animals. “I have the coolest kid in the entire world honestly. To be so aware of the rescue crisis in the state and overall in the country I think that’s pretty unique,” she said.