Learn how to properly dispose of pet waste

Pet waste contains harmful bacteria and organisms that can spread disease. Pick up pet waste, seal it in a plastic bag, and dispose of it in trash cans. Don't hose waste into storm drains. Help keep your neighborhood and your pet healthy and clean.

Find where to: dispose of pet waste in your area.

Got Dog Feces...?

Dog Feces Play A Major Role In Contributing To Water Pollution.

DOG OWNERS......

What is your reason for not properly disposing

of your dog's fecal material?

Is it because it eventually deteriorates? Or you don't have the proper equipment for picking it up? Perhaps you have a small dog that produces very little waste?

Guess what: It's the law! And it is a responsibility of all pet owners to properly dispose of their pet's waste.
It has also long been known that animal feces is an environmental pollution problem.

Dog feces contain billions of coliform bacteria. These bacteria contaminate surface water when it is carried into storm drains, creeks, and lakes during storms.

Coliforms are present in human waste, but our fecal matter is directed into sewage pipes in our houses and businesses. This sewage goes to wastewater treatment plants which purify our water.

Dog feces is left on the ground where it eventually finds its way into our natural waterways, contaminating and spoiling our swimming and fishing recreational areas. Current research has shown that dog feces is the one of the major player of this water pollution.

Because of the serious environmental impact of fecal waste, it is paramount that all pet fecal waste is properly removed on a regular basis.

Think about the next glass of water you drink. Is your treatment plant doing its job?

If you are considering swimming in a river or lake, think again!

How many pet owners are not doing their share of picking up after their dog?

Ask your Veterinarian about the value of a Pooper Scooper Service that can pick up and properly dispose of your pet's waste on a regular basis.

Possible sources of beach water contamination include the following:

• Polluted storm water runoff.

• Sewer line breaks, sewage spills and overflows.

• Waste from pets and other domestic animals, marine mammals and birds.

• Poorly maintained septic tank systems.

• Boating wastes.

• Oil spills.

Most beach closings and advisories are the result of monitoring that detects elevated levels of bacteria, which indicate the presence of potentially harmful microorganisms from human or animal wastes. These wastes typically enter coastal waters from:

• Sewage spills.

• Sewage-treatment plants and sanitary sewers.

• Runoff from urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Wastes can originate from other sources:

• Malfunctioning septic systems.

• Boats.

• Improperly disposed pet waste and dirty diapers.

When storms occur in coastal counties, advisories may be issued as a precautionary measure, because heavy rains may cause potentially harmful levels of pollution to beaches, making them unsuitable for swimming and surfing for at least 72 hours.

Disease-causing organisms, known as pathogens may be present at or near the pollutant/s point of entry. Gastroenteritis is the most common illness associated with swimming in water polluted by sewage. It occurs in a variety of forms that can have one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, headache and fever. Other minor illnesses that can result from swimming in polluted water include ear, eye, skin, nose, and throat infections. In highly polluted water, swimmers may occasionally be exposed to more serious diseases like dysentery, hepatitis, cholera and typhoid fever. Swimmers contracting a sewage-borne illness may also pass the disease on to household members. Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to develop illnesses or infections after swimming in polluted water. However, swimming-related illnesses are typically minor.

The following are steps you can take to decrease the likelihood of getting sick from swimming at the beach:

• Find out which beaches are monitored regularly and posted for closures or swimming advisories.

• In areas that are not monitored regularly, choose swimming sites in less developed areas with good water circulation, i.e., beaches adjacent to open ocean waters.

• Avoid swimming at beaches with visible urban run-off or discharge pipes.

• Avoid swimming at beaches after a heavy rainfall.

• Since most exposures to pathogens occur by swallowing water, wade or swim without submerging your head.

• Avoid swimming if you have an open wound or infection.

Each year tens of millions of people are drawn to the beaches to enjoy the beauty and the recreational activities they provide. Unfortunately, water pollution continues to degrade the quality and health of many of our nation’s ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches. The public’s concern regarding the safety of swimming at their local beaches has led many to limit or even stop their use of certain beaches. Until sources of beach water pollution can be eliminated, monitoring is the best way to protect swimmers and surfers from polluted water.

The Beach Water Quality pages of the Earth 911 system delivers up-to-date, community-specific water quality information that enables the public to make informed decisions about the relative safety of swimming at their local beaches. The initial pilot project was intended to partially fulfill the EPA’s mission of protecting human health, reducing risks associated with pollutants, and maintaining beneficial uses of water bodies by providing public access to shoreline bacteriology information collected at beaches by a variety of public agencies. Participants in the pilot project include the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health (SDDEH), Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), and US EPA Region 9. The Surfrider Foundation also played a central role in the development of this network. The program currently has the capacity to deliver beach water quality information for all coastal U.S. states.

Certain municipal, county and state agencies routinely collect water samples at specific locations along the shoreline, testing for the bacteria that indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms.

Typical monitoring process may occur as follows:

1. Trained staff collect water samples in sterile bottles according to specific guidelines.

 2. Sampling staff wade into the surf zone and collect water using a long pole with a sample bottle attached to the end

3. The sample bottles are immediately capped and placed into an ice chest for preservation.

 4. The time, date, weather conditions, and location of collection are recorded on a log sheet.

5. State health care agencies review the results of these tests, and if the data indicate a problem, posts an advisory or closes the beach depending on the extent of the problem. Signs are posted near the location where the contamination was detected so that you will know that it is not safe to swim. When the results of testing indicate a contamination problem, the responsible agency may increase the sampling frequency until the contamination dissipates or the source point is determined.

The most effective way to reduce beach water pollution is through prevention efforts. Many of these efforts require large-scale activities by states, counties, or municipalities to improve the quality and operations of sewage treatment plants. Community members can also help reduce beach water pollution. Follow these practices to help keep your beach water safe:

• Keep your septic system properly maintained.

• Dispose of boat sewage in onshore sanitary facilities.

• Wrap pet waste and baby diapers in a plastic bag and throw them in the garbage.

• Recycle used motor oil.

• Use natural compost instead of chemical fertilizers on your lawn; if you have to use fertilizers, do not apply when rain is forecasted.

• Avoid using pesticides.

• Use nontoxic household products, and dispose of household hazardous waste properly.

• Plant your landscape rather than paving it.

• Fix your car leaks, or better yet, reduce your car use – use public transit or your bicycle instead.

• Never wash your driveway or other paved surface with a water hose. More oil ends up in the ocean from urban runoff that from tanker spills! Sweep it up instead, and if you need to use water, fill a bucket and use water sparingly.

• Reduce your water use, especially during heavy rain events, when local sewage treatment plants get overloaded.

• Postpone your laundry chores when it is raining.

These actions can make a big difference:

• For stormwater information and to find your local recycling areas, click HERE.

• Oceana

• The Surfrider Foundation

Where Does My Poop Go?

How Landfills Are Made & Maintained

Runoff Rules Get Tougher
Cleanup: Water board orders L.A. County and 84 cities to help inspect sources of pollutants that wash into the sea. Foes vow to appeal to state officials.
Story from December 14, 2001 by Kenneth R. Weiss, Times Staff Writer
As shown on the Orange County Coastkeeper web site.
Newport Beach, CA

Health Alert!
Creek Pollution Pinned on Pooches - Animal Waste Seen as Likely Culprit
Purely Pets' website also contains lots of useful information about pets.
Chester, VA
Source: Washington Post, Dan Eggen

Dog Feces and Water Quality
Dog feces in water supply can become seriously dangerous. A single gram of dog feces contains an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, some of which can cause disease in humans.
Source: University of Texas, 2001

Pollution Prevention: Animal Waste Collection
The Stormwater Manager's Resource Center (SMRC) web site
Funded through an Environmental Protection Agency grant
Ellicott City, Maryland
Current News posted on their site

Welcome To The Got Doo Directory..!

A place where you can find professionals in the pet industry

If you would like information on how you can get your Gotta Haves Listed

Contact The Got Doo Directory At yuckos@yuckos.com