It’s gross we know. It’s one of the least pleasing aspects of being a pet parent, but it’s necessary and important. Besides ruining your new shoes, leaving your dog's excrement can ruin lawns, pollute nearby bodies of water, and even spread diseases.
Why dog poop disposal is important
The list of reasons why pet parents don’t pick up after their pets can go on forever. But even the laziest pet parents can’t deny these hard-hitting facts.
Dog poop is not fertilizer. The high level of nitrogen in dog feces can burn grass and cause unsightly yellow spots so the belief that it is a good fertilizer is fictitious.
According to the USDA, dog poop can be composted but recommends not using it on crops meant for human consumption.1
Dog poop contributes to water pollution. When dissolved in water, the nutrients breed algae and other vegetation that create scum and create toxic conditions for fish and humans. Even if you don’t live near the ocean runoff rain and melting snow can wash collected feces into storm drains, polluting streams, creeks, lakes, and rivers.
Dog poop spreads diseases. Dog feces is a common carrier for bacteria and parasites that can cause illness in humans and animals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,2 the list includes but is not limited to:
- whipworms
- hookworms
- roundworms
- tapeworms
- salmonella
- E. coli
- Parvo
One of the easiest ways we can protect not only your pet’s health but your own health is by picking up after your pet.
Pick-up Tips
Always be Prepared
Take a page out of the boy scouts handbook and always be prepared. Ensure you always have a waste bag on you. If you step out for a quick walk or head to the dog park, don’t forget to bring a bag.
The bags should be large enough to fit your pet’s feces, especially if you have a larger breed. Be sure to pick up as much of the waste as you can, as some pieces may have fallen outside the main pile. Bringing two bags can be helpful in case one of your bags breaks.
If you see someone else out you can always offer one if you have an extra to help out the unprepared pet parent. Hey, sometimes we forget!
One way to ensure that you are never without a doggy bag is to clip an Arm & Hammer Dispenser to your leash. The dispensers are refillable and come in quantities as large as 180 bags. Buying bulk will make sure you always have enough on hand for you, and your neighbor.
Know your Dog’s Bathroom Habits
You know how your dog goes. As soon as they see grass does your dog go number two? Or do they have to search for the perfect spot? Keeping track of your pet’s bathroom habits, you will be able to predict when and even where they will go! Having an idea of when your pup will poop will ensure that you are prepared for when the time comes.
Go Hands-Free
If you have your own yard and don’t have to pick it up immediately, use rakes and bins, which allow you to pick up the mess without having to get dirty.
The Arm & Hammer Swivel Bin & Rake Bin has a large capacity so you can scoop more in-between unloading and you don’t even have to bend down! The bin has handles for the waste bags to keep the bin from getting dirty, and the bags have easy tie-ups for odor-free disposal.
Whether you use a bag or a rake, don’t forget these tips when doody calls!
Sources:
- https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_035763.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/dogs.html
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