While this might be obvious in parks and public spaces with posted signs telling you to clean up after your pup, it's not uncommon for neighborhood homeowners associations and neighborhood covenants to require picking up poo even in your own yard.
Even if you live in an area without posted signs or a homeowners association enforcing the rules, your city or county might have laws and regulations in place requiring you to clean up after your pet in public spaces.
People often believe that leaving dog waste to decompose in the yard is good for the lawn, but the truth is that dog poop is toxic for your grass, said PetHelpful. Unlike cow manure, which is basically composted grass, a typical dog's poop, which is made acidic through natural digestive processes and their microbiome , is enough to destroy the grass underneath it. For this reason, dog poop also shouldn't be placed in your compost or used to fertilize your garden.
In either case, it contains bacteria that could contaminate your vegetables. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency describes dog waste as containing two types of pollutants: nutrients and pathogens. Dog waste that gets washed into waterways may carry pathogens that affect living things in the water and can make people sick that are in contact.
Also, nutrients released from dog poop can stimulate the growth of algae and other plant life, making the water unsuitable for recreational uses. Even if your dog doesn't show any symptoms of illness, their waste could still carry bacteria and parasites that are harmful to other pets and humans.
And you don't need to come into direct contact with dog poop in order to contract an illness from it — diseases in poop can be transmitted by flies or other pets that come into contact with it, said iHeartDogs. Here, according to PetHelpful, are some of the illnesses and infectious organisms carried in dog poo:.
While you may think your own dog's poop can't do that much harm, keep in mind that your dog is likely one of hundreds in your area. By picking up after your dog, you'll help protect the ecosystem. Dog feces left lying in parks, on public walkways and even on neighborhood lawns can quickly pile up to a point that the smell becomes overwhelming. Even if you live in a rural area with no close neighbors, you no doubt know that a relaxing afternoon in the hammock can be ruined by the smell of too many dog deposits in the yard.
If you've ever had to clean dog poop from the bottom of your shoe, you don't need to be told stepping in the stuff can ruin an unsuspecting person's day. Add to that the impact dog waste can have on the environment and public health, and it's not hard to see that picking up after your dog not only makes you a responsible dog owner, but also a considerate neighbor. It's simply the right thing to do. Cleaning up after your pooch can be as simple as using a disposable baggie to pick up deposits and then dropping the whole bag in the trash.
While this can be a great way to re-use plastic grocery bags, a more environmentally-friendly option is biodegradable baggies made specifically for this purpose, which you can find at most pet supply stores. A common misconception, or excuse people use, is that poop is natural fertilizer. However, this is not really true. Not all piles of poop are created equal. If that were the case, we probably would have to invest so much in sewage treatment of our own waste.
Cow manure is has a very different make up from dog waste because their digestive systems, and diets are very different. Dog waste is actually so high in nitrogen and phosphorus that it can have the opposite effect of fertilizer.
The best way to keep your lawn green is to promptly clean up after your dog, or at least on a weekly basis. All animal waste affects our water, and dogs are no exception.
However, with some mindfulness and diligence, we have the power to help lessen its impact! Then it rains, snow melts, and the waste is washed away into storm drains.
Out of sight, out of mind—right? Not quite. From there, fecal matter could wind up in lakes, streams, ponds, and other local water sources. When this happens, poop decomposes and releases nutrients that cause excessive growth of algae and weeds. We all have to make a habit of scooping the poop! Fortunately, there are lots of ways to get the job done, and clever inventors come up with new and stylish solutions all the time.
Please remember, many of the illnesses spread through feces are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted to you from your pet, and are contagious between pets. Proper hygiene is critical to minimize disease risk. Follow these tips to avoid fecal contamination:. Pick up a fresh sample and bring it to our hospital for a fecal exam. Currently you have JavaScript disabled.
In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Previous Next.
0コメント