Here at my house I "police the grounds" before I mow. This saves this kind of disruption of the mowing when it finally starts. Okay, the dogs see me coming and will leave a steaming pile in front of the mower, not on the already-mowed bit, but that doesn't bend blades if I hit it. I get the tools I might have left, the dog chews, balls, sticks, whatever, during that first cursory walk-through and then can mow safely.

SRS