The Scoop on Pet Waste

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2009-11-25 03:00:00 UTC
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When a dog does his business outside, it's part of the natural order of things, right? In theory ... except that in the time it takes for that stinky little pile to biodegrade, it can spread disease and cause serious water pollution problems.

Using the scoop is more than mere common courtesy. Just ask the 57-member coalition that's out to save the Puget Sound from the perils of pet poop. Even if your dog is healthy, he can still transmit bacteria and diseases that can be deadly to fish and water mammals. When dog poop gets caught in the run-off that ends up in our water, it adds to the contamination of beaches and the decimation of aquatic species. Even the swimmers that aren't directly susceptible to your dog's germs live in a sensitive ecosystem and tend to be affected by the health of plant and animal life around them.

Pet waste is bad news for land animals, too. A number of parasites can be transmitted between species (some more easily than you really want to know), including dogs to humans. Obviously dog-to-dog transmission is the biggest threat, since they tend to stick their noses in unpleasant places. A number of dogs are known to eat stool, too. There are varying theories behind this behavior, but the most effective way to stop it is to remove the temptation.

Apparently San Francisco is exploring ways to turn poop into power. But until there's a program in place, the best thing to do is pick it up and toss it. Don't leave it to Mother Nature to clean up after your pet. Those little baggies can end up saving lives.

Photo credit: Eva Luedin
Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.
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