Why Picking Up Dog Poop Is Important: 5 Vet-Reviewed Reasons
Updated on
Click to Skip Ahead
Do you often leave dog poop on the pavement while walking your pet in the park? If so, you’re not the only one. It tends to be a hassle and a not-so-glamorous thing to do in public places. In these situations, all we want is to escape and let the clean-up services handle our dog’s poop. However, you shouldn’t do that for many reasons. For starters, it causes a major health concern. More importantly, it’s likely illegal to leave your pet’s poop in public areas; you may violate laws in certain areas by doing so.
This guide discusses five major reasons to pick up your puppy’s poop immediately. So, let’s dive in.
The 5 Reasons to Pick Your Dog’s Poop
Here are a few of the most common and convincing points to encourage you to pick up your dog poop, whether on a pathway, in a park, or in your backyard.
1. It Is Not a Beneficial Fertilizer Like a Cow Poop
If you believe a dog poop is as good and beneficial as a cow poop, you may want to think twice. Cow manure is often used on crops, making them grow healthy. However, dog feces aren’t a fertilizer.
Dogs have a different digestive system when compared to cows. Specifically speaking, cows are ruminants, whereas dogs are termed as monogastrics. The feces of many ruminants can be used as a fertilizer due to their unique digestive physiology. However, the feces of dogs aren’t nutritious for plants and may in fact harm plants.
Dog feces may also contain the eggs of certain parasites which can spread if not collected. Feces that eventually make their way to the water system can pollute the environment, which we’ll discuss next.
2. Dog Poop Can Damage the Environment and Water
We all know that unattended waste damages our lakes, rivers, and seas. Not only that, but it also affects marine life.
It works like a chain reaction. When your dog poops on sidewalks and you don’t pick it up, it gets washed away in drains with rain. This fecal matter then winds up in lakes, ponds, and streams, accumulating and creating an ugly mess in various water sources.
When this poop decomposes, it releases many different nutrients. These accumulated nutrients contribute to growing weeds and algae, making the water green, murky, and smelly. When algae growth accelerates, the water source becomes unhealthy and unsafe for swimming and fishing. Dog poop is also full of things that can make people and animals sick.
3. Picking Dog Poop is the Law in Many Cities
Do you know that many municipalities and communities have strict laws regarding dog poop? They charge heavy fines when you leave the poop as it is, despite the posted signs that ask you not to.
In fact, in some cities, the law is nicknamed “pooper scooper law” and doesn’t spare anyone who breaks it. Most public places and parks also have a cleaning team assigned to locate bins around the area for you to throw the poop in. Other than public places, specific neighborhoods also disallow dog parents to pollute sidewalks and roads with their unattended dog’s poop.
4. Dog Poop Smells Really Bad
Dog poop lying in parks and sidewalks can quickly pile up, creating an unbearable smell that spreads like wildfire. The smell can be overwhelming, ruining the ambiance of the area.
Imagine going out for a peaceful and scenic walk in your neighborhood, only to feel sick by the poop smell taking over your local park. That’s disgusting!
5. Picking Dog Poop Is a Common Courtesy
It is all about being considerate. Suppose you are walking on a pathway and suddenly find your shoes stuck in a dog’s poop. It would be enough to spoil your entire day!
The same applies to the rest of humanity as well. If you fail to pick up your dog’s poop, you may ruin their day or be a bad neighbor in your entire community. Who would want to live next to someone who leaves their pet’s poop out all year? No one!
So, picking up dog poop shows common courtesy to your neighbors, tourists, and other animals. It also plays a crucial part in making your environment and surroundings clean and safe.
The 4 Tips for Picking Your Dog’s Poop
The 4 Tips for Picking Your Dog’s PoopSee how essential it is to pick dog poop from public places and pathways? If you find this task difficult, keep reading for some ways to make it effortless.
1. Always Keep a Waste Bag Container With You
It is always handy to keep a waste bag with you. However, there can be occasions when you might forget to take one.
To avoid that, attach a bag container with your dog’s leash. This way, you can always have a disposable bag to pick up the poop and discard it. When it comes to bags, always go for the biodegradable varieties. This way, you won’t feel bad throwing it away in a bin.
2. Invest in a Pooper Scooper
A pooper scooper is an excellent choice for picking dog poop from your neighborhood. You can collect all the poop in one go without wasting multiple bags. Toss the poop collected in a garbage can with a tied bag. Wait for the garbage team to pick it up instead of discarding it yourself.
You can also flush the collected poop. This is an accepted approach, but make sure to avoid flushing the bag along with the poop.
3. Keep a Sanitizer and Gloves Handy
Many people avoid picking up their dog’s poop in public to keep their hands safe from getting messy and dirty. In that case, keep some gloves and a sanitizer with you so you clean your hands after picking poop and remain safe from pathogens in the feces.
4. Pick Up Poop Daily
Instead of conducting a weekly poop-picking session, make sure that you practice this habit daily. This will result in creating less mess and save your environment substantially.
You can outsource this task to professionals and keep your lawn, backyard, and surrounding areas clean.
Conclusion
Remember that a dog’s poop can cause more harm than you imagine. Therefore, pick it up and deal with it when your pet releases the poop. It is not only beneficial for your environment but is also considered lawful and courteous in many cities.
Featured Image Credit: LightField Studios, Shutterstock
