Pet Waste Dangers
There are millions of dogs here in the United States alone. Each individual dog provides their owners with endless unconditional love and companionship. Unfortunately, these dogs also provide their owners with the unwanted burden of pet waste.
Many dog owners are unaware of the dangers of pet waste in their yards and communities. In reality, the “doody” pets leave behind poses numerous hazards to humans, the environment, our lawn and plants.
Dog feces harbor a variety of harmful bacteria and viruses such as giardiasis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, tapeworms, ringworm, heartworm, and parvo among others. Since the bacteria and viruses can linger in the soil, they are easily transmitted via contact by a dog or human into the home. A single gram of dog feces (about the size of a dime) contains about 23 million fecal coliform bacteria which can cause serious kidney disorders, stomach cramps, diarrhea and intestinal illnesses.
Another thing to keep in mind is that pet waste attracts rodents and vermin to your yard, park, playground, or community common areas who use it as their primary food source in urban areas. These animals carry a variety of diseases and also bring fleas and ticks into your grass, which in turn can then take up residence on your pets.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deemed pet waste a "nonpoint source of pollution" in 1991, which put dog waste in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals! If left uncollected or improperly disposed of, pet waste filters into our groundwater and into waterways, lakes etc.
Finally, pet waste is protein based and not grain based like cow or horse manure, making it unusable as fertilizer for yards and plants. Left unchecked, pet waste will inhibit growth and eventually kills lawn and plants.
So be a responsible pet owner, clean up after your pet everytime. You may not think someone is watching...but we are.
And if you see someone not cleaning up after their pet...politely remind them to do so.
