2001-Sun Feb 19 09:27:50 EST 2017
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How often have you almost stepped in — or actually stepped in —
dog poop that was left on the ground? Pet waste that isn't properly disposed of isn't just a hazard waiting to happen to your favorite pair of shoes, and it doesn’t just disappear (unless you have a friendly neighborhood pet waste disposal person).
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers pet waste a "nonpoint source pollutant." This type of pollution is caused by runoff from rainfall or snowmelt moving over the ground, picking up the pollutant and depositing it into natural bodies of water and underground drinking water. Herbicides and insecticides are found in the same category.
When pet waste is left on the ground, it can have a devastating impact on
lawns and, more important, on the larger environment as well. It also poses a threat to people and other animals.
Two of the greatest dangers of unattended pet waste are the parasites and bacteria found inside it.
Roundworm eggs last for years, and [because of this], dog waste should not go in compost that will end up as vegetable garden fertilizers.
Hookworms are a concern in sandy areas where people are on the beach or barefoot in parks and playgrounds since these worms will migrate under the skin, causing scars,” says Steve B. Thompson, DVM, DABVP, clinical associate professor at
Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Pet Wellness Clinic at Purdue. “These two worms are the primary reason for ‘pooper scooper’ laws at beaches and public parks.”
Other bacteria and
parasites that can survive in dog and
cat waste include
Escherichia coli (
Cat feces can also contain
Toxoplasma gondii, which can lead to the disease
If waste is not picked up, people and pets are at risk for being infected or reinfected with these parasites. Pets who walk through your house after being in an area with unattended waste can also increase your exposure to these dangers because they may track that waste into your home. For the same reason, children who play outside in areas frequented by dogs or
cats should always wash their hands afterward, just in case they came in contact with pet feces.
Although waste that gets into the water can spread these parasites and bacteria, waste's high concentrations of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus can also harm aquatic ecosystems. It can contribute to the nutrient pollution that causes
algal blooms, which kill aquatic life and plants and can make people and pets sick.
According to the
EPA, “2 to 3 days of droppings from a population of 100
dogs contribute enough bacteria, nitrogen and phosphorus to temporarily close a bay to swimming and shellfishing.”
While some people think pet waste acts as a good fertilizer because of these nutrients, leaving waste on your lawn can have the opposite effect, causing "lawn burn" and killing grass.
Like this article? Have a point of view to share? Let us know!
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