Celebrated annually from April 1st to April 7th, International Pooper Scooper Week is the perfect opportunity to educate dog parents about the hazards of dog poop to human health and the environmental risks it poses when left unattended. That is why we want to take this opportunity to focus on reasons to pick up that poop.
There are many reasons why scooping a dog’s poop is a necessity. Regardless of where or when it occurs, there is no excuse for not scooping your dog poop. It is such an important issue that it has become unlawful in a growing number of cities with fines imposed on people who do not pick up after their dogs. But not everyone knows why it is such a big deal.
Perhaps, you are at a loss on why so much attention should be paid to dog poop disposal, here are some valid reasons to pick up that poop:
- Dog poop contains disease causing parasites such as hookworms, ringworms and salmonella which are infectious to humans. In fact, roundworm larvae which causes blindness and diseases of other vital organs such as heart, liver, brain and kidney is present in dog poop. It is also good to note that the eggs of roundworms and other parasites can remain in the soil for several years, thus extending the likelihood of infections which are spread by human shoes after stepping on it. This can only be prevented if proper measures are put in place to dispose dog waste.
- It is toxic to the lawn. This is due to the acid contents of dog poop, which burns the grass, leaving a withered and yellow patch.
- Dog poop left unattended can contaminate water in the event of rainfall. Runoffs from dog poop covered areas could end up in rivers, streams and lakes or even sink into the soil to pollute the water table. This predisposes people who engage in water recreation such as boating and swimming to bacterial infections and other waterborne diseases. Due to its highly infectious potential, dog poop is considered as environmental threats in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Large concentration of pet’s waste enhances the growth of weeds and algae on water bodies. This prevents light penetration through the water surface resulting in low oxygen levels for desirable aquatic animals and subsequently their deaths.
- Using dog poop as garden fertilizer can lead to food poisoning. In addition to the parasites which it carries, dog poop like every other fecal matter attracts flies which perch on fruits and vegetables leading to the spread of disease causing germs such as Salmonella. Fruits and vegetables are the most contaminated in this case due to fact that they are mainly taken raw.
Therefore, considering the aforementioned health risks of dog poop, it is clear that growing concerns about it goes beyond the bad odor and messy surroundings. It has become absolutely necessary to forestall occurrences of public health disasters by doing the needful. So, if you are a pet parent, take it up as a duty to regularly pick up after your dog(s) and ensure proper disposal. If you don’t want to pick up your dogs poop in your own yard, hire a professional pooper scooper to handle the job. The sacrifice would be worth it in the long-run.
A Company called PooPrints, a dog DNA matching service, offers an affordable and easy solution for pet friendly apartments, condos, town homes, and gated housing communities where there is a property manager. You can read more about this in an our article on How Modern Technology Can Help Clean Up A Dog Poop Problem.
Do you see a lot of dog poop left on lawns when you are walking in your neighborhood? Help spread the word with reasons to pick up that poop by sharing our article.