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Pet Waste

 

 The Scoop on Dog Poop- Scoop it, Bag it, Trash it!

 
 

We can teach our dogs to all kind of things, but so far they can't take care of their own messes! Pet wastes left on the ground can get you, your kids, your pets, and our waterways sick. 

 Watch our Award Winning Commercials!

Are you polluting our lakes and streams?

Pollutants from improperly disposed pet waste may be washed into storm drains by rain. Storm sewers usually drain directly into our lakes and streams, carrying many pollutants along with the water. When pet waste is washed into lakes or streams the waste decays, using up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can kill fish. Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth which makes the water unattractive for swimming, boating, and fishing. Perhaps most importantly, pet waste carries diseases which makes water unsafe for swimming or drinking. 

Many of the creeks in Alachua County are on the State's Impaired Waters List due to high concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria. Studies have shown the dog waste is one of the sources of this bacteria. Whereas some sources are expensive to eliminate, such as leaky wastewater infrastructure, pet waste can be kept out of our creeks by scooping, bagging, and trashing it ALL THE TIME!

There are about 143,600 dogs in Alachua County producing roughly 16.5 million pounds of poop a year.

1 gram of dog feces contains 23 million fecal coliform bacteria- thats 1.1 billion per pound!

Watch this fun Flash Video on
pet waste and water poo-lution!

Click below the images to download our posters and
Scoop Pledge!

 

Are you risking the health of kids and pets?

Dog waste can contain:

  • Hook worms - In people, these larvae usually migrate in the skin causing an itchy red track to develop.
  • Round worms - Can cause vision problems and nervous deficits.
  • Cryptosporidium- Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and dehydration. May be fatal to people with depressed immune systems.
  • Campylobacteriosis - A bacterial infection carried by dogs and cats that frequently causes diarrhea in humans.
  • Giardia- Can cause extreme diarrhea.

The eggs of some parasites can stay inactive in the environment for years, until a new host comes along. Don't let it be you or your dog!

     

"The bottom line is if we pick up the feces passed by our dogs and cats when they are outside and dispose of the feces, we can reduce the level of environmental contamination and possibly reduce the risk of dog and cat infections and the possible involvement of the human population."

Ellis C. Greiner, Professor of Parasitology

College of Veterinary Medicine

University of Florida

"Prompt removal of pet waste can greatly reduce the possible risk of infection from the protozoan Cryptosporidium and Giardia and the bacteria Campylobacter and E.coli. These pathogenic organisms can contaminate both surface and drinking water resulting in gastrointestinal illness if incidentally consumed. Roundworms and hookworms are intestinal parasites that can present a risk of infection if soil becomes contaminated."

Anthony Dennis
Environmental Health Director

Alachua County Health Department

What can I do?

Bring a biodegradable bag (Wards Supermarket bags, pet bags like the ones in the picture, etc)  for scooping when you go for a walk.

Don't forget to clean up in your  own yard. Seal it in a biodegrable bag and place it in the trash. 

 Tell your friends, neighbors, and folks on the street of the importance of scooping, bagging, and trashing dog poop!

 Read our pet waste BMP and learn more!

 

Am I going to pollute by putting dog poop in the landfill?

 

No, landfills have liners and treatment systems, so pollutants won't leach into the environment. We certainly want to reduce our waste stream to landfills wherever possible. When it comes to pet waste, however, there is currently no better alternative.

If you buried pet waste in your own yard you may cause health problems, especially if it is close to a garden or play area. In many places in Alachua County the groundwater is close to the surface or only protected by sandy soils that allow pollutants to quickly travel to our drinking water, so burying it on your own isn't the best solution.

At some point in the future, commercial composting technology may be sufficient to treat pet waste, enabling curbside pickup along with yard waste. Until then, landfilling is the best alternative for pet waste. 

 Composting yard wastes = GOOD

Composting pet wastes = BAD

Is pet waste a fertilizer?

Being the eco-minded organization that we are, we wish we could tell you to compost and re-use dog waste. All of the research we did confirmed the fact that PET WASTE IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. This includes lawns, gardens, compost piles, bushes, waterbodies, etc. The big danger is the organisms living in the waste that can get you and your pets sick. Most compost piles do NOT get hot enouh to kill these organisms. Stick to the classic manures and organic fertilizers  for your landscaping and bag and trash  your pet waste.

 

 

Helpful Links:

Snohomish County WA 101 Reasons to Pick up Pet Wastes Campaign- Great posters and information.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Green Tips- How to be a "green" pet owner

UCF Stormwater Academy- Great Flash video on pet waste.

Bags on Board- Bag containers to attach to leashes and refills (also available at local pet stores and some grocery stores)

Dogipot- Pet waste disposal stations and refill bags

Alachua County Pet Rescue Page- info on local pet rescue resources

Alachua County Animal Rescue- info on pet adoptions, tags, lost pets, etc.

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