The Real Scoop on Pet Poop

If you’ve been lying awake at night thinking about how to prevent dogs from “fouling” your grass or garden you’ve, come to the right Hub. If you’re worried about the health hazards of doggie doo, you’ve hit the right link. Here’s just about everything you wanted to know about pet poop but were afraid to ask.

It takes a lump of gumption and a good deal of diplomacy to demand that your neighbor not allow his or her dog to do their dirty business on your lawn, or on the common grassy areas of the community. If you care about preventing neighborhood health hazards and protecting the earth’s environment, it's common sense be pro-active about dog poop.

Don't be intimidated! You're doing everyone a favor by letting irresponsible pet owners know about the dangers of “urban landmines”. Unassuming pedestrians and landscapers who trod on a dog's disgusting deposits often take those "presents" home with them. We all know that there's nothing more revolting than discovering you've been spreading dog dirt throughout your home. The serious scoop on the poop is that pet waste can lead to the spread of bacteria such as e.coli, giardia, cryptosporidium, and salmonella. They cause diarrhea, roundworm infections, and taxoplasmosis (a potentially devastating disease to the unborn children of pregnant women). Areas used by dogs as bathrooms also contaminate the environment when rain water washes the feces into rivers and streams using up the oxygen and releasing polluting ammonia gases.

While responsible pet owners scoop the poop, a 2002 survey showed that a whopping 40 percent of Americans did not pick up after their dogs, and that women were more likely to do so than men.

Call it Poo or call it Poop, the fact is “hot” manure (any fresh animal droppings/excrement) is not fertilizer. True organic fertilizer has been aged and dried. I know lots of successful gardeners who swear by Chicken Poop fertilizer. I’m fond of Cricket Poop myself. No joke!

So if you want a sensationally successful vegetable garden, tell Snoopy, thanks, but no thanks and try using a little Chicken Poop. It's also far less smelly than commercial horse or cow manure.

Most dog walkers still think nothing of allowing their pets to urinate on trees and grass. Ok, it doesn’t create lingering olfactory memories as do the landmines, nor does it attract as many flies and rats as does fresh feces, but it almost always kills the grass. People and unleashed dogs and cats get away with this misdeed because many unsuspecting homeowners think the tan spots on their lawn is caused by the sun, or bad grass seed, or perhaps too much fertilizer. No, it’s dog pee with its high concentration of ammonia. Unfortunately, those yellow spots are not going to turn lush green tomorrow.

Female dogs, especially the big ones, are more likely to be the guilty pooch because they squat and alleviate themselves at one time, unlike male dogs who prefer to spread the “wealth” around. Lady dogs leave larger, concentrated amounts of urine… and they tend to go to the same spot each time. Of course, there is the chance that the suspect spot is really lawn burn from some other cause. Try pulling on the grass. If it’s still firmly rooted, then it is probably lawn burn and Fifi is off the hook.

You can buy anti-poop repellants. You can also give your neighbor a month’s supply of “doggie diapers,” (as a subtle hint), or you can simply tell them to “curb” their dog in approved dog walk areas and to please scoop up that toxic poop.

There are also loads of clever lawn signs (available from my Amazon links), that artistically broadcast your message with style and flair. I love the very proper "No Dog Fouling" sign. I live in the U.S. and it always gets their attention.

Once you've picked up the poop with your handy pooper scooper or your poop bag there are several safe methods of disposal.

- You can place it with your other trash for garbage pick up, but you should first check with your local sanitation department to see if that's permissible.

- Pet waste can be flushed down the toilet. There is an awesome product (see my Amazon link) that lets you flush the poo and the doggy bag right down the toilet. I learned about it after reading a fine article called Green Flushable Dog Poop Bags.

- Bury your doggy's dirty treasures in the ground in a shallow pit.

1. Educate your neighbors with pets not only about lawn burn, but your community’s leash laws if the pet is visiting on its own.
2. Saturate urine spots with water within eight hours to dilute it. Use a garden hose with a nozzle so that you do not over-water other parts of the yard.
3. Replant your yard with more urine-resistant grasses. Fescue is the most resistant to turf burn, which works if your property gets some shade and you are able to water it regularly in the summer heat. While non-dormant Bermuda is quick to recover because of its rapid growth habit, it is one of the more sensitive grasses.
4. A healthy lawn is more resistant to pet fouling. Water as needed and do not over or under fertilize.
5. Train your dog to urinate in a discreet location. If possible, provide a mulched area as a potty spot.
6. Is your dog eating more protein than necessary? If so, consider changing his/her food. (check with your veterinarian first.)
7. Water is great for everyone including Fido. Encourage your dog to drink a lot of water to dilute the urine and decrease the risk of lawn burn.

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