Poop Patrol: A Simple Guide to Picking Up After Your Dog
Becoming a parent to your cute dog is one of life’s greatest joys. From the snuggles, the belly-tickling laughter, and all those priceless moments that warm our hearts, it’s only natural for you to want to show off your furry bundles of love.
But before you take your pup out for a spin around the block, remember that one of pet parenting’s less exciting duties is picking up a dog’s waste. It might not be glamorous, but it’s significant for you and your community. After all, leaving dog messes on the ground is neither sanitary nor pleasant for anyone.
Consider this blog post your guide to mastering the protocol: the essential do’s and don’ts for picking up dog poop. We’ll explain why this healthy habit is critical and discuss how to make cleanup duty easy and second nature for pet owners.
5 Reasons You Must Pick Up Your Dog’s Poop
Being a pet owner is an enormous job. Along with the unconditional love and joy your dog brings, there’s also an obligation to ensure their environment remains neat. This means regular poo pickups so you can enjoy spending time outdoors without making a mess for other people in your community.
But if you look closer, collecting dog waste isn’t just in pursuit of keeping a spotless backyard. It’s not just a matter of personal preference. There are various factors that make picking up after your pet an actual necessity.
Here are five reasons why:
#1: Adherence to the Law
Community laws ensure all kinds of mischief, including those left behind by our precious fur babies, are kept off the streets. Dog owners must diligently do their duty and pick up after their pups. Keeping your area and tracks clean and pleasant is not just a common courtesy—it’s the responsible thing to do.
By doing the bare minimum, you protect nature, wildlife, and your community. Adhering to these regulations will also save you from potential embarrassment or legal fines nobody wants to pay. We can all become better stewards of nature with simple actions like these.
#2: Not a Sufficient Replacement for Fertilizers
Contrary to what many may think, the adage “everything naturally returns to the Earth” does not apply to pet waste. Dog feces isn’t a natural fertilizer at all.
Unlike cow manure, the nitrogen found in dog poop can rapidly deplete soil nutrition and produce noxious smells. Beyond that, bacteria and parasites can linger and contaminate other crops or water sources if they remain in the environment for long periods. This is why you must bag and throw your pet’s poop in the bin where it belongs.
#3: Disease Control
Keep your neighbors safe by picking up after your pet’s business. Unpleasant odors aside, pet poop can contain parasites that could harm other pets and people within your community!
Unless we take proper precautionary measures to discard pet waste correctly, dangerous microorganisms like E. coli and salmonella can spread rapidly to our soil and water systems, bringing severe health consequences to nearby households.
#4: Nuisance
Nobody wants to experience the unpleasant shock of stepping barefoot into a pile of puppy poop. Much like a slowly-spreading oil slick, pet waste can wreak havoc on even the cleanest shoes, clothing, and sidewalks.
Given that not everyone is equally keen on handling a pet’s poop, any pet parent’s most considerate course of action is to act out of duty and fulfill their responsibilities. Not only does cleaning up after your pet maintain order in any community, but it also helps you avoid disapproving stares and murmurs from your neighbors.
#5: Drawing Unwelcome Visitors
Uncollected pet waste can act like a bright beacon that attracts wild critters such as skunks, rodents, and raccoons. These unwanted guests are drawn by the scent of dog dirt, which could mean a wild night for the community if they decide to stay.
It might seem like something to laugh off, but these mischievous pests can cause significant damage to your home and other structures if not addressed as soon as possible. A few minutes for pet cleanup goes a long way in avoiding dangerous animals and keeping your home safe.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Your Dog’s Poop
Being a responsible pet parent means going the extra mile to ensure your furry friend is in optimal health. That means rolling up those sleeves, putting in some hard work, and getting your hands dirty.
Some dog owners don’t know the best way to go about picking up after their pets, so here are some key pointers for keeping a pup’s messes in check:
Do: Use Biodegradable Poop Bags
Plastic grocery bags seem like the most convenient option. Still, it doesn’t help our environment with all the other plastic going into landfills.
Carrying biodegradable baggies that can minimize pollution and protect the environment is a safer alternative. Even better, they can properly contain pet waste appropriately when you dispose of them. With an environmentally-friendly option at your fingertips, there’s no need to worry about making a mess or polluting the environment!
Don’t: Throw Waste in a Storm Drain
Storm drains work to whisk away excess water when it rains. Sadly, these same systems can become polluted when pet owners fail to dispose of their dogs’ waste properly, leading to contamination of surrounding areas and much harm to everyone nearby.
Throw your pet’s waste in a garbage can or dumpster. This small act helps preserve the cleanliness of local waterways and avoid getting an entire community sick.
Do: Use a Poop Scooper
The ideal requirement for effective cleanup is to have a reliable poop scooper in your arsenal. Dog poops vary in size depending on their breed and age. Thus, it’s essential to have a tool that can handle small and large piles while providing excellent hygiene and as little mess as possible.
Moreover, having one of these scoopers comes in handy when taking a casual walk with your beloved dog. It allows convenient cleaning in one step without letting go of their leash.
Don’t: Flush It Down Your Toilet
Our drainage systems are a critical life force for utility and environmental purposes. It is a highly connected network of complex ecosystems that run underground, feed, water, and recycle our water sustainably and across households.
As dog owners, we should not let our laziness cause the flow of dog poops into these vital habitats. Disregarding this simple duty is a giant disservice to our community.
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