1000 Flowers for the Planet - #317 Clean Up After Your Dog
When dog owners fail to pick up their dog’s poop
it’s a lot more serious than simply being rude and disgusting (as if that
wasn’t enough). Dog waste is a significant polluter of water. When it is left on
the ground it begins to decompose, then the rain comes and washes it into the
soil. This is serious because the poop contains dangerous pathogens which then
find their way into the water system – our drinking water. Unfortunately there
are no waste treatment facilities designed to filter dog poop, therefore all
the diseases are carried into the water, which we then drink. This includes
salmonellosis, roundworms, tapeworms and other unpleasant beasties that we
really don’t want to be drinking in our water.
Apparently the natural ecosystem is designed to
cater for two dogs per square mile [source: http://theilovedogssite.com/the-shocking-truth-about-not-picking-up-your-dogs-poop/]. How many dogs live in your area? Also according to the
aforementioned website, the USA EPA claims that dog poop is as toxic to the
environment as chemical and oil spills. This is serious, folks! Clean up after
your dog.
[Meanwhile, I’ll see if I can find any advice
for sustainable dog waste solutions, so look out for a future Flower
suggestion.]
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