Don't Pollute. Scoop the Poop.
What’s the problem with dog poop?
For one, it’s gross to step in dog poop. But there’s much more to it! Like human poop, pet poop is raw sewage that contains pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can make pets, people, and wildlife sick. Some of these pathogens can last for years in the environment or your backyard.
People and pets who wade or swim in poop-polluted water or eat shellfish harvested from it are at the greatest risk of getting sick. Plus, the nutrients in dog poop can cause weed and algae growth in lakes, which can reduce the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive
The secret's out...dog poop can contain disease-causing organisms, including roundworms, Giardia, Salmonella, E.Coli, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, and Parvovirus.
Scoop it, Bag it, and Trash it to keep your family safe and protect water quality.
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What if I don’t live or walk my dog near the water?
It may be hard to imagine, especially if you don’t live next to a body of water, but your pet’s poop left on the ground affects the water quality of lakes, streams, and marine waters in our area.
Rainwater picks up everything it touches, including dog poop, and carries it to the nearest drain or ditch. Those ditches and drains collect rainwater runoff and carry it into a nearby waterway. When the rainwater finally makes it to our creeks, lakes, and bays, it brings with it a little bit of all the poop it touched on the way.
When you think about how many dogs we have around…that’s a lot of poop!
What are the solutions?
The best solution to keeping water safe from pet poop pollution is simple: Bag it and put it in the trash.
Bagging and trashing dog poop is the preferred disposal method. The bag protects everyone from contact with the pathogens, and landfills safely contain the pollutants. Trash haulers and public health professionals agree - the best thing to do is bag and trash dog poop.
At home, scoop it, bag it, and trash it at least weekly, ideally daily, and especially before it rains.
- Pathogens you can’t see can be tracked indoors on paws and shoes.
- Some pathogens can survive in your yard for weeks or years.
- Think your pet has kicked a parasite? Be careful. Your pets can become re-infected with parasites contained in dog poop from your own yard.
On walks, bag it every time and carry it to the trash.
- Plan Ahead. Always keep extra bags and a flashlight on your leash.
- Watch closely when dogs are off leash. Scoop even in tall brush.
Other FAQs
Won't dog poop break down naturally?
Nope. Dog poop is raw sewage, just like human poop. Dog poop is raw sewage, just like human poop.
Dogs also eat a much different diet than wild animals, so their poop is not natural. The poop may appear to break down, but the parasites and germs stick around. Bacteria left in the soil travels into streams, rivers, lakes, and eventually the Puget Sound when it rains. Dog poop must be treated the like the health hazard it is.
Can I flush pet poop down the toilet?
Maybe. If you are on a municipal sewer system and you can stand the yuck-factor, flushing is an optional method of disposal. For those with septic systems for sewage disposal, flushing pet waste can potentially exceed the design capacity of the septic system. High volumes of hair and ash, not normally found in human waste, can interfere with septic system function and clog drain fields.
In other words, we still highly recommend the trash.
Can I bury or compost pet poop?
Nope. Composting and burying may seem practical, but those actions do not kill pathogens in the poop and can still pollute water. The pathogens and parasites within the pet waste are not properly treated or removed under most compost conditions. Experts strongly advise that pet waste should never be placed in your home compost bin or directly on your landscape.
Is it really better to use plastic bags instead of leaving poop on the ground?
We agree that plastic isn’t great for our environment, but it is currently the best and safest option we have for disposing of pet waste. We recommend purchasing dog bags made from recycled plastic or, better yet, reusing your own plastic produce or newspaper bags. At home, try using a scooper stick and a bag-lined bin to reduce the amount of plastic you use.
What’s the deal with biodegradable bags?
While some bags indicate that they are biodegradable, this doesn’t mean they should be left on the side of the trail or thrown into the woods. The bags break down and this does not remove the dog poop and associated pathogens from the environment.
We recommend purchasing dog bags made from recycled plastic or better yet recycle your own plastic produce or newspaper bags from home.
What if I leave my bagged poop on the trail to pick up later?
We know it’s not fun, but packing out your pet’s poop is part of being a responsible dog owner. Bags left on the side of the trail for later pickup may be left with the best intentions, but more often than not, they are never retrieved on the way out.
We wish we could put more trash cans out, but cans on trails would be too difficult and expensive to empty. Using a bag carrier or keeping a hard-sided plastic food container in your bag are two hands-free solutions for packing out poop.
What about other pets?
Picking up poop is not the best part of having a pet, but it’s in the job description. Dogs, cats, goats, chickens, you name it…If your pet poops outside, you’ve got to scoop it up and manage the waste responsibly. Every little bit counts and helps to protect your family, public health and water quality.
How is dog poop any different than wildlife poop?
Wildlife poop can also impact water quality, especially when their populations are concentrated. As domesticated pets, dogs are not part of the natural environment. Keeping pet waste out of our waterways is something we can control and is an important part of keeping overall bacterial levels in our waterways low.
What about wildlife?
Wildlife, such as deer, raccoons, and geese, can also contribute to unhealthy levels of fecal-related bacteria pollution if their populations are concentrated. Avoid attracting wildlife to your home or parks. Never feed wildlife. Keep trash and pet food well sealed. Healthy watersheds can handle natural levels of animal waste without damage to water quality.
This didn't seem like an issue when I was growing up. What's different now?
Our population here in the northwest is growing quickly. Because we love our furry friends, the puppy population is increasing too. With more people and more dogs living close together, the density of poop adds up. Dog poop is raw sewage, and can spread disease just like human waste.
Other Resources:
City of Bellingham "We Scoop Pledge":
www.cob.org/scooppoop
Puget Sound Starts Here:
https://www.pugetsoundstartshere.org/TakeAction.aspx
Dog Doogity Music Video:
http://www.scooppoop.org/index.aspx
2019 Spring Dog Waste Campaign:
survey summary & maps
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J89801 to the Washington State Department of Health. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.