Did you know that today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day? In honor of Earth Day it is important that we dog lovers understand how pet waste impacts our environment and our health.
The cold hard fact is this: dog poop isn't just on our lawns, it's in our drinking water. When pet owners do not pick up their pets' waste, storms wash it into storm drains, which empty out into the nearest waterway. And that waste is filled with harmful bacteria and parasites that can make people sick.
At one time, people believed that doggy doo was not a problem. But in reality, dog waste is NOT fertilizer and it is NOT good for our lawns. (It is so acidic that it acts as a poison that will actually "burn" your grass.)
Earth Day was created in 1970 to "inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment." Earth Day is celebrated in spring - a time when dog waste is uncovered by spring thaw - making this the ideal time for us to take a closer look at the environmental effects of dog poop.
If you live in a northern state, dog poop accumulates in your yard all winter long. During the spring thaw, the snow melts away and your yard is filled with dog waste. Bacteria and parasites in that dog waste survive the harshest temperatures because they become dormant during those cold winter months. So when that dog waste thaws, those dangerous parasites and bacteria are unleashed in your back yard where they can cause harm to the environment, your pets and you. Also, as dog waste thaws it draws beetles and other pests. So the sooner you clean it up, the better.
Here's the bottom line. If you've got dog waste in your yard, patio or walkways, you've got problems. Cleaning up dog poop is one of those inescapable realities of owning a dog. Nobody LIKES to do it, but it has to be done.
courtesy of PetPlace.com dog Lover
Grumps II
a.k.a don,
a.k.a Mr. Heather's dad
