The average dog deposits approximately ¾ of a pound of waste
on the ground every day. That is nearly 300 lbs of waste per dog, per year.
That is a lot of poop. Sometimes that
waste happens in our yards, other times it is in our neighbor’s yards when we
are taking the dog for a walk. Wherever
it happens it is important to scoop the poop and dispose of it on a regular
basis.
Dog waste is very high in bacteria and parasites that can
affect our direct health and the health of our water. The most common parasites and bacteria found
in dog waste are heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, parvovirus, Salmonella, and
E. coli. The longer that the dog waste
stays on the ground, the more the soil becomes contaminated with these things.
These contaminants are so harmful, that the EPA has classified dog waste as an
environmental pollutant in the same category as herbicides and insecticides.
Dog waste is also very high in protein. This creates two problems. The first is rodents who are attracted to the
high protein content in the waste.
Leaving pet waste on the ground creates an abundant food source for the
rodents, which in turn bring other issues and diseases. Second, when the waste is left to breakdown
it washes away with the stormwater and moves all of that contamination and
pollution to our waterways such as the Chesapeake Bay. Pet waste from communities in proximity to
the Chesapeake is thought to be one of the main reasons for algae blooms and
fish kills in the Bay.
So be a good neighbor—scoop your dog poop from inside your
yard, and pickup after you pet when you are on a walk around the
neighborhood. It is important for our
health, the health of our children, the health of our pets, and the health of
the Bay.
