by B. L. Babb

Created on: April 16, 2008

Many believe that dogs defecating in nature are just that, natural. While it is natural, the fallout from piles left behind by owners can become so much more. There are multiple reasons why laws requiring the pet owners to remove wastes behind their pet exist. Many pet owners may be unaware of these reasons.

The following information is to help owners make responsible decisions to clean up behind their pets and to avoid areas where irresponsible pet owners have not cleaned up and shows the fairness is the requirement to clean up behind your pet.

WORMS - Health issues such as worms from infested pets are one of the primary reasons for the law. Roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms are several of the varieties that are shed through dogs' feces and can live in the environment contaminating the soil and promoting the infestation of other dogs and even humans.

PARVO VIRUS - Dogs can be a carrier of this devastating disease without ever showing the symptoms of it. If they are carriers, they can shed the virus in their feces. This virus can live up to 9 months or longer in the soil surviving a wide range of environmental temperatures (from summer to winter). The virus can be spread by simply walking through, touching, dogs sniffing, or even car tires driving through a contaminated area.

Remember, even though you may have your pet fully vaccinated, that does not mean your precious pet isn't a carrier. This is a devastating disease that attacks the lining of the digestive tract causing dogs and puppies to be unable to absorb the nutrients and fluids necessary to survive. In extreme cases, parvo may spread to the heart resulting in congestive heart failure. Incubation time for the disease is 7-10 days. The best disinfectant for this disease is a chlorine bleach mixture of 1:30 (4 ounces of bleach in 1 gallon of water).

Piles of feces attract dogs. Just by the mere act of a dog sniffing the feces of an infected dog or a carrier dog is adequate to spread this disease.

INSECTS - Summer months can also bring additional problems from feces that remain uncollected by pet owners. Insects will be attracted to the fecal material. Flies and other insects will gather and multiply in areas where fecal material has been left. With these insects arrive more disease potential.

WATERWAY CONTAMINATION - There are additional health risks from uncollected wastes. When feces are left uncollected near waterways, particularly waterways where people may swim or where water may be used for irrigation of plants for human consumption, harmful bacteria levels can be increased by pet solid wastes left in the areas surrounding the water. Rains can wash the dissolved matter into the water.

In addition to all of this startling information, dogs can contribute E. coli contaminants that, if allowed to enter bodies of water, can result if the closing of those waters for recreational use.

Besides the aesthetically pleasing aspect of not having feces along our cities' walkways, it is much safer for you, your dog, the public, and the pets of others not to have this waste left around.

Be a good pet owner and collect the wastes your pet leaves behind. It may not be the glamorous aspect of pet ownership, but it is the responsible pet owner that does it.

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