Dogs, gather round. We need to have an important talk on this Earth Day. It seems not everyone is getting the message on the importance of picking up the poop! According to multiple surveys, only 60 percent of dog owners clean up after their pets. 60 percent may seem like a good start, but it isn’t enough. To put this in terms that may be more relatable, one of the top reasons rules are changed and places ban dogs is due to the ever growing mountains of dog waste being left behind. Just this past year, we know of three places in our area that have either changed their dog rules or are considering it because of this problem. I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but we need to get the word out about this important responsibility of being a dog owner, if we want to continue to be welcomed places. This post is not for the squeamish. Here is the dirty truth about dog waste:
Scientists estimate in the United States dogs produce 10.6 millions tons of poop every year. Each gram of dog poop contains more than 23 million units of fecal bacteria. Bacteria that contains Salmonella, E. Coli, as well as other pathogens that are harmful to humans and other animals.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, dog fecal bacteria is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States, due to rain runoff. This issue goes well beyond causing gastrointestinal problems and serious health issues in humans. The unstable conditions caused by the bacteria and pathogens in dog waste can lead to algae blooms in rivers, lakes, and streams, which creates an inviting habitat for invasive weeds that slowly kill off the local plant and fish life. In fact the EPA has found that 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.
Water isn’t the only thing impacted by dog waste left behind on hiking trails, beaches, and parks. Unlike the wildlife that eat a diet based on local nutrients, dog poop introduces foreign nutrients into local ecosystems, which can have a negative impact on the environment. This nutrient-rich waste contains substances such as nitrogen and phosphorous, which are the same ingredients found in fertilizer. This can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem, and promote the growth of invasive plant species overwhelming the natural flora and fauna in the area. In addition, dog waste can attract rodents, including rats, who feed upon the bits of undigested food found in it. Although it has not been scientifically proven, some speculate that dog waste can also decrease the wildlife diversity by causing some animals to avoid an area.
Dog waste doesn’t just affect the water and the land either. A study conducted by the University of Colorado found that dog fecal matter presented a major source of winter airborne bacteria in urban areas. The myth of poop freezing and bacteria dying along with it in the frigid air is just that, simply a myth. High levels of airborne bacteria can trigger both asthma and allergy-type reactions.
So what can we do to prevent these problems? Simple! Pick of the poop and dispose of it in a proper trash receptacle. Yes, this may mean having to carry the waste with you during your adventure, and it could include having to bring it home with you if no trash receptacles are available. If you’re hiking in the back country, and by that we mean way out in the middle of nowhere in a remote area not the typical day hiking trail, then it is advised to bury it 6 to 8 inches underground at least 200 feet away from any water source. Also if you’re out on an adventure and see that someone has left behind dog waste or a bag filled with it, pick it up.
Yes, there are issues even with the proper disposal of dog poop. Plastic bags do not easily disintegrate and can give off a toxic chemical when burned at landfills. Biodegradable bags, although breakdown faster, work best when composted. However, it remains better to carry it away than let it cause unsanitary conditions on hiking trails, beaches and parks. Together we must all do our part to be responsible dog owners if we want to continue to be welcomed to places.
