While we shelter in place as part of our efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, I’ve had the chance to meet (at a safe distance, of course) lots of neighbors and their dogs. Maybe you’re experiencing the same in your neighborhood. Social distancing and these lovely spring temps draw us all outdoors as much as possible. That means lots of morning/afternoon/evening walks around the neighborhood, often with our four-legged friends in tow. As responsible pet owners, it’s a no-brainer to bring a bag along for the stroll in case our pups feel the urge to make a “deposit” in someone’s yard along the way. What’s equally important, however, is that we remember to pick up after our pets in our own yards.
You see, scooping the poop is not just a community courtesy, it’s an important job we all have that helps protect and preserve the quality of our local waterways. Pet waste contains parasites and leads to bacteria formation and other bad stuff. If you think of it as “pet pollution” rather than “natural leftovers,” you’re heading in the right direction. Just because it’s in your yard doesn’t make it okay to stay. Not only does water move the poop and its bacteria from your yard to communal waters, some diseases can be transmitted from pet waste to humans through contact with the soil. That means that children playing outside, adults who garden, and anyone in your family walking barefoot in the backyard are at risk.
Make your dog’s business your business and always scoop the poop…wherever it may lay. After all, it’s our (doody) duty.
Scoop it. Bag it. Trash it.
Want to show your commitment to clean, healthy waterways? Take the pledge to scoop the poop today!