Facts About Pet Waste ​

Here are some facts about pet waste that are important to keep in mind.

Isn’t dog waste good for my yard? I thought it was good fertilizer.

The Centers for Disease Control states that a single gram of dog poop can contain 23 million bacteria, which can contaminate the soil and cause diseases that could even infect humans. Furthermore, it can take a very long time for the poop to break down in your yard, which is how contamination of the soil and groundwater can happen.

It can contain parasites that can infect humans

The Centers for Disease Control confirms that many parasites that can infect humans can be spread by contact with infected dog waste. When the waste is left to sit on the ground to decay, the poop may “disappear”, but the eggs from these parasites can linger in the soil and infect humans. Parasites found in dog poop that can infect humans include: 

  • Tapeworms 
  • Roundworms 
  • Hookworms 
  • Giardia 
  • Salmonella 
  • E-Coli 

Some of these parasites can be transmitted to humans by not practicing good hygiene practices, while others cause infection in humans by a person coming in direct contact with the larvae of the parasite. How often do kids go from playing in the dirt to having lunch, without washing their hands well? How often do you walk barefoot outside? Picking up pet waste not only helps the environment; it helps reduce the spread of disease. 

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