PET WASTE
Our pets are like family to many of us. But they also produce a lot of waste that can be harmful to our health and water quality. Pet waste carries harmful bacteria and is a source of nutrients that fuel algal growth in our region’s water. Improperly disposed of pet waste is picked up by the flowing stormwater when it rains, or when snow melts. This stormwater washes down storm drains, where it travels untreated and unfiltered into our waterways, and ultimately into Lake Erie.
The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that more than 44% of American households have at least one dog. Here are some more numbers:
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There are 62 million households in the United States that own a dog.
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The total number of dogs is approximately 85 million.
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Each dog produces on average 0.75 pounds of waste per day.
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That means America's 85 million dogs produce over 63 million pounds of waste every single day.
Thats a whole lot of poop.
Pet Waste and Bacteria
Pet waste can have a number of harmful pathogens that can be transmitted to humans when collected by stormwater. Below are just a few examples of the diseases, infections, and parasites that can come from improperly disposed of pet waste.
Salmonellosis: a bacterial infection that can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Toxocariasis: a roundworm parasite that is often without noticeable symptoms but can include vision loss, a rash, fever, or cough.
E. coli: a family of fecal bacterium that can cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea, and vomiting.
Pet Waste and Nutrients
Beyond just causing serious health concerns when in waterways, pet waste also contributes various nutrients to local waterways when the associated contaminants are picked up by stormwater when it rains.
After being picked up by stormwater, pet waste then decomposes in that water and releases nutrients in a process called nutrient loading. These nutrients, which include nitrogen and phosphorus, can lead to imbalances that cause harmful algal blooms to develop.
Harmful algal blooms have a number of associated issues, such as:
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Being toxic to humans, pets, and wildlife.
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Making water recreation dangerous.
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Depleting available oxygen in the water, resulting in fish kills.
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Causing overall damage to the aquatic ecosystem.
Disposing of Pet Waste
Properly disposing of our pet's waste is an important part of reducing pollution in our waterways.
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The idea solution is to pick up after your dog and flush the waste in a toilet. That way the waste is treated before water returns to rivers and lakes.
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Bagging pet waste and disposing of it in your trash bin can prevent pollutants from leaching into waterways.
