by Julia Torres | Special to the Courier

Sherri Schafer’s mother Ruby often told her to always laugh at life’s messiest moments and to give back whenever you can.

After Ruby died at age 93, Schafer found herself with an inheritance, free time after retirement, and a desire for a new dog.

With her late mother’s values top of mind, in August 2025 she and her husband Bill fused all three into a new business: Hey Stinky, a San Dimas-based dog poop bag brand that combines humor — the company slogan is “Poop bags with personality” — community outreach, and support for therapy and service dogs, all inspired by Ruby’s outlook on life.

Hey Stinky co-founders Bill and Sherrie Schafer with their English miniature golden doodle Oatie. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Ruby had a wicked sense of humor that would “light up the room,” Schafer said. That spirit played heavily into her idea for dog poop bags with humor, merging her mother’s view of life and a good cause.

“I looked up and prayed to my mom and I said, ‘You know what mom? I think I know what I’m going to do with your inheritance.’ I said, ‘I’m going to create a poop bag line,’” Schafer said. “They’re going to be funny. They’re going to have personality and they’re going to give back to service and therapy dogs. And voila, that was it.”

The name came from Schafer’s daughter, Chelsea. “We think of Hey Stinky as the owner, not the dog,” Schafer said. “So even on the boxes, anything that we do, the messaging, I’m about that experience.”

Hey Stinky bags are available through Amazon and 16 small businesses in old town San Dimas. The company is in discussions with national pet retailer Chewy, but Shafer prefers linking to local retailers whenever possible.

“I’m going to target them for the reason that I want the community involved and I want to be able to help small businesses.”

Community involvement is a central part of the brand’s long-term vision. Schafer’s passion project in honor of her mother, the nonprofit Give Back Pact, is a partnership with the South Paw Dog Training Center in Chino. It currently has five dogs in training and will launch an online training program in the fall.

“Whether it’s hospitals, whether it’s schools, whether it’s community reading programs, they’re going to do all that,” Schafer said.

The goal is to train a therapy dog, find a family in need, and follow them through their journey.

Hey Stinky poop bags come in three scents. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

The inspiration goes back to her mom, Schafer said.

“I said, I want to make a promise to you right now that I will get a therapy dog and that therapy dog will make a difference for others and give back,” she said. “And that’s one of the reasons why we’re in service and therapy dogs.”

Hey Stinky’s newest addition is a 1959 Nash Metropolitan nicknamed the “Yabba Dabba Deuce.” The vintage car features a distinctive wrap job by SS Graphics and can be seen in the area spreading joy … and free dog poop bags.

“The one thing about the car that makes me happy is whenever we drive it, it makes people smile. And that’s huge. That’s really what we want to do with that car,” Schafer said.

Looking ahead, Schafer hopes to continue expanding Hey Stinky’s reach while remaining focused on community partnerships. Although she hopes to establish stronger relationships with companies like Chewy, her goals are not solely financial.

“I want to spread the smiles,” Schafer said. “The designs are fun. They’re funny. But it’s really about those dogs that are going to make a difference for us. So that’s what it’s about.”

Schafer also has her sights on creating shows for libraries, nursing homes, parades, rescue dog events and even “puppy yoga.”

More information is at heystinky.co.

Julia Torres is a Chicana first generation multimedia journalist focused on community and investigative reporting.