The Scoop on Pet Waste Removal: It’s not Yard Waste
Depending on what you feed your pet, animal waste isn’t necessarily an environmental threat in the order of carbon pollution or nuclear waste (although sometimes we wonder after they’ve come in from making lawn landmine). While Fido might not be leaving a radioactive pile on the lawn, it’s still not safe for you or your family to have it around. Pet waste removal is an important responsibility for all pet owners. After all, we want to take the best care possible of them, right?
- America alone has over 83 million dogs, which means over 10.6 million pounds of dog poop per year.
- Dogs can harbor lots of viruses, bacteria and parasites — including harmful pathogens like e coli, giardia and salmonella, which is why is shouldn’t be considered yard waste.
- A single gram Scooby’s doo contains an estimated 23 million bacteria.
- Studies have traced 20%-30% of the bacteria in water samples from urban watersheds to dog waste.
- According to the Environmental Protection Agency, just two to three days of waste from 100 dogs can contribute enough bacteria, nitrogen and phosphorous to close 20 miles of a bay-watershed to swimming and shellfishing.
- It also can get into the air we breathe: a study of air samples in Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Mich., found that 10 to 50 percent of the bacteria came from dog poop.
- According surveys, only about 60 percent of dog owners practice responsible pet waste removal.
- Dogs have a high protein-based diet that creates a very acidic excrement.
- Cow manure is in fact good for vegetation because it in fact started out that way.
- Most dog foods today are composed of beef, chicken and/or pork products, which creates a highly acidic waste product that is bad for your grass and can leave your back yard looking like, well, much of a yard at all.
- All of that bacteria in your dog’s stool? Yeah, that seeps into the soil and eventually the groundwater too, but not before it has a chance to cause retinal diseases in kids according to a study done by an Extension Veterinarian and Extension Soil Scientist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
- You should never use composted pet waste on plants you'll be eating.
- Commercial composting facilities are required to keep the compost at hot enough temperatures, for a long enough period of time, to get rid of harmful pathogens.
- Only when properly treated, is the resulting compost is safe.
- Improperly disposed dog waste can find its way into waterways, such as lakes and streams -- and ultimately, your home's taps.
- The bacteria found in canine excrement can wreak havoc on aquatic plants and the public's health
- And, like we mentioned, it’s a no-no for the typical vegetable-garden compost pile.

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