Our four-legged companions are adored by all of us. They bring immense happiness to our lives, but pet ownership also has its less glamorous aspects, such as cleaning up after them.
Dogs produce nearly one pound of waste each day, which can take up to a year to decompose fully if left unattended. This can result in an overwhelming accumulation of your pet’s feces over time, which can pose a risk to the environment. Therefore, it is essential to pick up after your dog, and we have listed some of the most critical reasons and recommended ways to do so.
Why You Should Clean Up After Your Dog
It Can Harm the Environment
Even if your pet is healthy, its feces contain bacteria, parasites, and worms that can cause severe harm to the environment. If the waste is washed away by rainwater, it can end up in drainage systems, lakes, rivers, and streams. The harmful disease-causing bacteria and parasites from your pet’s waste can contaminate the water supply and be dangerous to your community.
You can prevent this by ensuring that your dog does not defecate within 200 feet of a water body or by diligently cleaning up after them.
It Can Harm You or Your Neighbors
Your yard is not just a toilet for your pets; it is also a place for you to entertain guests and spend time with your children. It is crucial to avoid your pet’s waste while you are having fun. Children, in particular, may come into contact with the waste and suffer from easily transferable illnesses such as Giardia, E. coli, roundworm, and ringworm.
Other pets that come into your yard can also be harmed if they eat or roll around in your pet’s waste.
It Can Harm Your Pet
When your pet becomes ill, contagions can often be passed through their feces into your yard. The more extended the waste remains on the ground, the more contaminated the area becomes, and the higher the likelihood of your pet contracting the infection again.
For instance, roundworm is a common parasite found in dog waste and can remain infectious in contaminated soil and water for years. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet owners spent a record $99 billion on their pets in 2020, with vet care accounting for $30.2 billion of that total. Picking up after your pet can help prevent persistent illnesses and vet visits.
It Can Harm Your Lawn
Dog waste, unlike cow manure, contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which can cause your lawn to turn brown over time. Some people may believe that their pet’s feces can be beneficial for their lawn’s growth, but this is not the case.
Cleaning Up After Your Dog
Several methods can be used to clean up your pet’s waste. Here are some solutions:
Use a Poop Bag
The most common solution is to pick up your pet’s feces with a poop bag and dispose of it in the trash. This option is convenient for pet owners who take their pets for walks, and there are many types of poop bags available, including biodegradable bags that are eco-friendly.
Use a Pooper Scooper
Another option is to use a tool, such as a pooper scooper, to pick up your pet’s feces and dispose of it in the trash or flush it down the toilet. Some pet owners dislike the smell of their dog’s waste, which is why they use products that freeze the waste before discarding it.
Hire a Pooper Scooper Service
You can always outsource the job of cleaning up your yard to pet waste removal companies like Pup Clean Up. They can provide a one-time clean or a routine schedule to keep your yard looking its best.