Roughly 78 million dogs live in homes across the United States, and together they produce about 16.4 billion pounds of waste a year. Fredville alone is home to roughly 31,000 dogs, and the average dog leaves behind about three-quarters of a pound of waste every day. That adds up to about 23,250 pounds, more than 11 tons, of dog waste in Fredville daily!
Why Pet Waste Is a Problem
Rain can wash thousands of pounds of pet waste into storm drains, which empty, untreated, into local creeks, rivers and lakes. The harmful bacteria and nutrients in that waste travel with it. We would never accept raw sewage in our water, and pet waste deserves the same concern.
Water quality is not the only thing at stake. Waste left on the ground, especially in parks, playgrounds and sports fields, can expose children, adults and other pets to disease. It is also unpleasant and messy, and nobody wants to step in it at the park or on the ball field.
Keep in mind that pet waste carries bacteria and parasites along with organic material and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus.
Diseases that can spread through pet waste include:
- Campylobacteriosis: a bacterial infection that gives people diarrhea.
- Salmonellosis: the bacterial infection most often passed from animals to people, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headache and muscle aches.
- Toxocariasis: a roundworm infection people can catch from animals, which may cause vision loss, rash, fever or cough.
Pet waste also harms water through its organic matter and nutrients. Once it reaches a creek or pond, it decays, and that decay uses up dissolved oxygen and gives off ammonia. Low oxygen, rising ammonia and warm summer water together can kill fish.
Extra nitrogen and phosphorus feed fast-growing algae and weeds, turning water cloudy and green. As that added plant matter breaks down, oxygen levels fall further, killing aquatic life, and foul odors can follow.
Pet waste that is not disposed of properly also draws flies and other pests, which are a nuisance and one more way disease can spread.
What You Can Do
Preventing pet waste pollution is easy. Pick up after your pet every time, then flush the waste, bury it about 6 inches down or toss it in the trash. On every walk, bring a plastic bag so you can carry the waste to a trash can instead of leaving it behind.
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