Most dog owners love their dogs but hate the process of picking up the smelly gifts their dogs leave for them around the yard or along the walking trail. However, what if, instead of dreading doggy doo you looked forward to finding it? This probably sounds unlikely, but if you start composting your dog’s waste, you just might feel that way.
There are many benefits to composting your dog’s waste, as explained below.
Garbage Collectors Will Love You
Dog waste is usually collected in plastic bags that are then thrown away. Few owners give much thought to what happens to the nastiness after they have tossed their bags away, but garbage collectors do, and, as you can imagine, they hate this process. The reason garbage collectors dislike bags of doggy doo is because the bags inevitably open after being placed in their garbage trucks, causing a nasty mess and a bad smell that someone has to clean up.
Dog Waste Creates Beautiful Flowers
Composted dog waste can be added to ornamental flowers and shrubs that you have placed in the landscaping around your house. The nutrients in the composted dog waste will help your ornamental plants flourish, and they will thrive from the added nutrients.
However, NEVER place dog waste in compost used on plants that are meant for human consumption. There are pathogens and bacteria in dog waste that will make humans sick. If you stick to using the dog compost on ornamental plants then you will not go wrong. In addition, pregnant women should never touch compost made from dogs waste.
Animal waste has been linked to health issues in pregnant women, so it is better to be safe than sorry.
If you frequently buy fertilizers for your ornamental garden then you can easily imagine how much you can save by making your own compost.
How to Compost Dog Waste
Composting is as simple as placing the dog waste into a container. Of course, there are a few other things you need to do, such as prepping the container for the waste, but once you get your dog composter set up, then you just need to add waste to it. You can even add earthworms to your compost to help with the process. Not to worry, the worms will love it!
If you are sold on the idea of composting your dog’s waste, then it is easy to get started. There are plenty of resources available online, at your local library and through your local agriculture exchanges that will explain what steps to take to prepare your compost, and the proper container to use.
If your budget allows, you may want to purchase a commercial dog composter. These often use enzymes to accelerate the decomposition of the waste. Once you have your composting station set up, you will simply deposit your dog’s daily offerings into it. It won’t take long before you can use your own, homemade dog compost and enjoy the benefits that composting will add to your flowering garden.
Susan Wright is a licensed veterinarian, freelance writer and consults with the research and development of dog training collars.
- From Dog Poo to Quality Vermicompost with the Turn of a Worm! (londonworms.wordpress.com)
- Clever. In Madrid, dog poo left in public places is mailed back to owners | Springwise http://t.co/O0QBqMOt2c via @springwise (springwise.com)
- Council posts dog poo back to owners in ‘clear up’ campaign (digitalspy.co.uk)