Cleaning up after your dog does not have to be expensive. There are countless ways to save money in this area, such as reusing plastic bags from the grocery store. Simply put your hand inside the bag and scoop. Tie the bag closed and carry it home. Deposit it in an approved trash receptacle.
Not only do you want to be a good neighbor when it comes to cleaning up after your dog. It is important to clean up dog feces because pet waste is dangerous. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deemed pet waste “a non-point source of pollution” in 1991. That puts dog poop in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals.
Did you know that dog feces is one of the most common carriers of heartworms, whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, parvo and corona viruses, giardiasis, ocular larva migrans (an eye disease caused by parasitic worms found in dog feces) and salmonellosis?
Puppy waste does not make good fertilizer. In fact, it is actually harmful to your lawn, causing burns and discoloring.
Experts estimate that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23,000,000 fecal coliform bacteria, which is known to cause diarrhea, intestinal illness, cramps and serious kidney disorders in humans.
The EPA estimates that two or three days worth of feces from a population of about 100 dogs could contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it to swimmers and shell fishermen.
According to the EPA, pet waste creates nutrients that promote the growth of weeds and algae in our waterways. The abundant plant growth limits the amount of light that can penetrate below the water’s surface, resulting in decreased oxygen levels that actually asphyxiate the fish and seafood.
Some folks may say they don’t give a hoot about the effect of dog feces on our waterways. Perhaps, it would be best to rethink that stance because improperly disposed of dog waste does impact life closer to home. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, pet feces contribute to diseases communicable to humans.
For example, roundworms can be in the soil for years before you walk barefoot or begin to garden there. You are at risk of getting roundworms by coming into contact with the infected soil.
It is a good idea to pick up dog feces from your yard at least two or three times a week. Picking up right after your dog potty’s never hurts either! If it is a chore you don’t want to deal with, call a commercial service to do it for you.
If you are a dog owner, be a good steward of the land. Start in your own backyard, but remember your manners when you take your dog to public places such as the neighborhood streets, parks, hiking trails and waterways. You don’t want to step in poop left behind by your own dog. Other people don’t want to step in it either.
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