Serious Reasons to Pick Up Your Dog's Poop

Many scientific studies have shown that dog waste is a significant contributor to bacterial contamination in our waterways, backyards and neighborhoods.  Pet waste contaminates our soil and water by generating disease causing bacteria that can make people and dogs sick. Children have an even greater risk at coming in contact with bacteria and disease from dog waste if they play outside in the soil.

Disease and bacteria from dog poop can pollute stormwater runoff and watersheds, which in turn, contaminates streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. It can kill or damage plants, wildlife, fish and cause beaches to be closed down due to the pollution.  Dog poop is also one of the most common sources of coccidia, giardia, parvo, hookworms, roundworms and whipworms.

Diseases that can be spread to humans from dog waste include:

• Salmonellosis (the most common bacterial infection transmitted and include symptoms of fever muscle aches, headache, vomiting and diarrhea)
• Campylobacteriosis (a bacteria infection causing diarrhea)
• Toxocarisis (roundworms transmitted from dogs to humans and symptoms include vision loss, rash, fever, or cough
• Giardiasis (diarrhea causing illness caused by parasites)

As you can see, dog poop is a pretty serious matter.  Many local communities have passed laws requiring pet owners to pick up after their pets to help deal with the growing pet waste pollution problem.

Disposing of pet waste

Install an underground pet waste digester

A good way to rid yourself of dog pooh is to install an in ground doggie septic system such as the Doggie Dooley (www.doggiedooley.com) or something comparable. Contact your local officials in regard to site restrictions.

The trash
The trash is not always the best solution for pet waste because it can contribute landfill issues.  When walking your dogs, use biodegradable pick up bags and place in proper receptacles.

Flushing

You can flush pet waste down the toilet minus any non flushable substances such as most cat litters, however, cat waste can potentially kill sea life such as otters and dolphins.  Typically toilet water goes either to a septic system or sewage treatment plant, however, a parasite found in cat waste, called toxoplasma gondii, can survive treatment.  This is also a good reason to pick up cat waste outside as well. Legistlation has been passed in California prohibiting the flushing of cat waste in order to protect sea life.

Compost
Composting the waste is a great way to deal with the poop.  While you should not use compost from dog or cat waste in regular composters for veggie gardens, you can use the compost for shrubs and plants.

Hire a professional
There are many professional services that provide pet waste pick up and disposal.
 

In conclusion, pet owners can make a difference by picking up pet waste and disposing of it properly. Find out more about pet waste pollution by contacting The Environmental Protection Agency, The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or TAPP (Think About Personal Pollution)