Facts
The Problem
Dogs present a special problem. Built to eat almost anything, dogs have an especially large number of intestinal bacteria to help them digest – about 23 million bacteria per gram of waste. Due to dogs’ high-protein diets, their waste is highly acidic. It is not a fertilizer and can contain 10 times as much fecal coliform bacteria as cow manure, and a whole lot of gross stuff like E. coli, salmonella, and giardia. (From Tallahassee, Florida’s Think about Personal Pollution campaign)
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Comparison of Bacteria in Various Animal Waste
| Source | Fecal Coliform | Fecal Coliform per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Human | 13,000,000 | 1,921,920,000 |
| Dog | 23,000,000 | 7,728,000,000 |
| Cow | 230,000 | 5,358,080,000 |
| Horse | 12,600 | 293,529,600 |
| Wild Rabbit | 20 | – |
| Mice | 330,000 | – |
PUP FAQs
Can’t I leave dog poop on the grass as a fertilizer?
No, pet waste can turn grass yellow or kill it. Besides, the chances of the waste decomposing and being absorbed by your lawn or other plants before the rainwater washes it into the nearest stream or reservoir are slim.
Is bagging dog waste any better for the environment?
While bagged poop still goes into the landfill, it eliminates the direct contribution of bacteria to local waterways.
Is dog poop really that dangerous?
Yes! Pet wastes can transmit bacteria and viruses including tapeworm, roundworm, E. coli, Parvo, and more. Humans who come into contact with dog waste could become ill. Animal waste can also attract rodents and the parasites they harbor. Pick up animal waste to keep your family healthy.
How do you know the water quality issues are caused by pets and not something else?
- In 1993, the US EPA reported that 95% of fecal coliform found in urban stormwater was of non-human origin (Alderiso et al., 1996 and Trial et al., 1993).
- In addition, studies in Seattle, Washington, found that nearly 20% of the bacteria isolates researchers could match with a host animal were matched with dogs.
- Wildlife, like deer and coyotes, don’t need picked up after because they are spread out over the land and not concentrated in certain areas like our pets.
Take the Pledge
Picking up after your pet is the simplest way to protect water quality and be a good neighbor.
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