Press Releases
Waste Not: Pet Byproducts a Major Health Concern
Dog Waste A Major Source of Bacterial Contamination
Charlottesville, VA—July 20, 2009—It’s no laughing matter: failing to clean up after a dog can carry a hefty fine, and penalties are going up—way up in some areas. In Denver, for example, repeat offenders must pay as much as $300.
The laws are on the books, and more and more cities are starting to enforce them, according to Jacob D’Aniello, founder of DoodyCalls, the country’s largest pooper scooper service.
“It’s a major public safety issue that hasn’t received much public attention until recently, even though researchers have been studying the impact of pet waste on the environment for years,” he says. “More people than ever before use plastic disposal bags to clean up after their pet, but there are still many owners who seem to be oblivious to the hazards to their communities.”
Most laws are similar—No person owning, keeping, or having custody of a dog, except a seeing eye dog, shall allow or permit the dog to defecate or urinate on public parking or any sidewalk and each such person shall immediately remove dog excrement from any curb, gutter, alley or street.
Dog waste is a major source of potentially deadly E. coli and can contain up to 23 million fecal coli form bacteria, according to the DoodyCalls website and pet-health resource. In 1991, it was placed in the same health category as oil and toxic chemicals by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The presence of pet waste in storm water runoff has a number of implications for urban stream water quality with perhaps the greatest impact from fecal bacteria.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that two or three days’ worth of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay and all watershed areas within 20 miles to swimming and shell fishing.
According to recent research, dog waste is a major source of bacterial contamination in urban watersheds. Recent genetic studies by a number of research teams have found that as much as 95 percent of fecal bacteria in urban storm water was from pets. One bacterial source tracking study using DNA, conducted in Seattle, traced nearly 20 percent of the bacteria to individual dogs.
“The longer dog waste stays on the ground, the greater a contamination becomes,” D’Aniello explains. “Bacteria, worms and other parasites thrive in waste until it’s washed away into the water supply—and all of these bacteria and parasites can be transmitted directly to humans, and especially children.”
Ringworm, roundworm, salmonella and giardia are examples of such bacteria, all of which are found in dog feces and are easily transferable upon contact.
Dog waste is also the number one food source for rats, which aside from posing additional health concerns themselves, can decrease property value and are an unwanted rodent in any community.
“There are more than 75 million dogs in the US today, and nearly 40 percent of all households own at least one dog,” says Jacob. “The most responsible thing people can do for their family and community is pick up after pets.”
DoodyCalls is the nation’s largest pet waste disposal service, operating in 21 states. For expert information on clean and safe pet-waste disposal, readers can call 1.800.doodycalls (366.3922) or visit: http://doodycalls.com/resources_toxic_dog_waste.asp.
MEDIA CONTACT
Marc Samson
Director of Public Relations
434.422.9181 (direct)
msamson@doodycalls.com
http://doodycalls.com/about_doodycalls_media.asp |
