The Scoop on Poop

I love walking around our lovely town. Armed with grocery bags, I am prepared for possible poop pick for my two dogs, Spooky and Dinky. One thing I don’t like to see is remnants of previous dog owners who thought it acceptable not to clean up after their dog. I feel bad for the homeowners whose yards are marked by dried up dog feces although I am sure they don’t need my assistance in not appreciating it. For that matter, all of us should be upset when we see these unsightly piles.

I will admit there has been a time or two that I found myself watching Spooky poop while I guiltily realize I forgot a bag. I made sure to improvise though... I “borrowed” the plastic covering of my neighbor’s newspaper (making sure to move the now naked newspaper to a sprinkler-free zone); I have even driven back to pick it up after my walk. I also may or may not be the person who followed someone to their home (after I watched them watch their dog poop in my yard and leave it) and returned their poop to them on their front porch...in a bag of course...but again, that may or may not have been me.

You might have heard that dog poop is a good fertilizer and that makes you feel better about not picking up after your dog. This is absolutely wrong. Dog poop is gross! Cow manure is a good fertilizer because it actually started out as vegetation. Dog’s diets are very different. Most dog foods today are composed of beef, chicken and pork products making their poop very acidic. In 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that dog poop is a dangerous pollutant full of parasites and bacteria. It is not good for your lawn and is certainly not good for people.

Just because you walk away, it doesn’t mean that your dog poop just “goes away”. Although it will eventually decompose, assuming weather conditions are right for decomposition, the parasites, worms and their eggs remain. Dog poop can spread hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms and Salmonella. These parasite’s eggs can last for years in your soil. It is loaded with E Coli and fecal coliform bacteria which causes serious kidney disorders, intestinal illness, cramps and diarrhea in humans. The next time you walk barefoot, do some gardening, or watch your kids playing barefoot in the yard, think of the possibilities of getting infected from those parasites, even though the dog poop has been gone for years! It can also breakdown into our soil, be washed into storm drains and infect our water supply.

If you own a dog, then picking up after your dog comes with the territory. Be polite to your neighbors and respect our city. Clean up after your dog...it’s the right thing to do.

THE CRAZY DOG LADIES is locally owned and operated offering full pet sitting and dog walking services. They offer daily visits and overnight pet sitting to keep your pets comfortable in their own home. THE CRAZY DOG LADIES are fully licensed, bonded and insured. Visit THE CRAZY DOG LADIES at thecrazydogladies.com, email them at thecrazydogladies@gmail.com or call 626-675-6711! See them on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!