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Anyone who owns a dog knows how frustrating picking up dog poop can be. It is all too common for pet owners to ignore the fact that it’s even there, thinking it will just break down, and eventually go away. Some pet owners even shovel the poop into flower beds, using it as a fertilizer, or watering it into the soil. But do you really know just how dangerous poop can be, not only to our dogs, but to humans as well. There are several reasons why it is important we pick up after our pets including:

1. Tapeworms : The adult Dipylidium caninum lives in the small intestine of the dog or cat. It is hooked onto the intestinal wall by a structure called a rostellum which is sort of like a hat with hooks on it. The tapeworm also has six rows of teeth to grab on with. Most people are confused about the size of a tapeworm because they only see its segments which are small; the entire tapeworm is usually 6 inches or more.
2. Roundworms : Roundworms are big worms.Typically they are white, about the diametor of a spaghetti-strand and about 4 inches in length. Often puppies or kittens vomit them up, or we are horrified when we see them in their feces. Roundworms can make your pet very ill, but is treatable, and usually not deadly. Treatment can be costly, and is required.
3. Cryptosporidium : Cyptosporidium is a protozoan pathogen of the Phylum Apicomplexa and causes a diarrheal illness called cryptosporidiosis. Other apicomplexan pathogens include the malaria parasite Plasmodium, and Toxoplasma, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. Unlike Plasmodium, which transmits via a mosquito vector, Cryptosporidium does not utilize an insect vector and is capable of completing its life cycle within a single host, resulting in cyst stages which are excreted in feces and are capable of transmission to a new host.
4. Salmonellosis : Salmonellosis is an infection with Salmonella bacteria. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal cramps 6 to 72 hours after infection. In most cases, the illness usually lasts 3 to 7 days-most affected persons recover without treatment
5. Giardia : Giardia Lamblia (formerly also Lamblia intestinalis and also known as Giardia duodenalis and Giardia intestinalis) is a flagellated protozoan parasite that infects the gastrointestinal tract and causes giardiasis.
6. E. Coli : E. Coli can generally cause several intestinal and extra-intestinal infections such as urinary tract infections, meningitis, peritonitis, mastitis, septicemia and Gram-negative pneumonia.
7. Parvovirus : Parvoviruses can cause disease in some animals. Because the viruses require actively reproducing cells in order to replicate, the type of tissue infected varies by the age of the animal. The gastrointestinal tract and lymphatic system can be affected at any age, leading to vomiting, diarrhea and immunosuppression,
8. The smell : No one likes the smell of doggie poo, including your neighbors.
9. Poo on shoes : There is nothing worse then having to scrape poop of your shoes. Most people are guilty of scraping their shoes off in the grass, leaving traces of feces stuck on the bottom. You should always use a bleach solution to clean the bottom of soiled shoes.
10. The flies : The could bring with them: Shigellosis, Polio & Eye Diseases

It is best to always pick up after your pets. You can purchase disposable gloves for extra protection at local drug, or discount stores for under $5.00 a box. Make sure to place the waste in a bag, recycled store bags work great. Then tie the bag up, and place it curb side. Some dog parks now offer free bags for use, in bag dispensers located at the entrance. If reaching down, and picking it up just isn’t right for you, pet stores offer a simple solution. You can purchase a wand style device that bags the poop, and ties it, without you touching anything. No matter what method you use to pick up the poop, be sure to always wash your hands afterward. Dial antibiotic soap works the best, and comes highly recommended by physicians.

If you see a dog roaming off leash by itself, call the authorities. A dog roaming loose is probably more danger to himself than he is to anyone else.  A responsible owner should be grateful that you helped return their pet to them. 

If your neighbor has a problem dog, talk to him about it. Doing this without alienating him can be difficult. It is usually best to approach the situation with a mixture of kindness and firmness. If you are rude or angry, you make it easier for him to ignore you.  If you’re tentative or deferential, he won’t take you seriously.

If you come across an irresponsible dog owner on a walk (not picking up after his dog, allowing his dog to lunge at other dogs or people, allowing the dog to eliminate indiscriminately, letting a disobedient dog run loose), look for a polite way to point out why this might be a problem.

When I see someone walk away from a mess their dog just made, I like to run up to them with a bag in my hand and a smile on my face to ask “You must have forgotten your bags, here’s one of mine.”  Most times the person looks a bit sheepish then uses my bag to pick up his dog’s mess. My goal in doing this is not only to get the person to think about his behavior but also to make him realize that other people see his actions and judge them.

If you, a member of your family or your dog are attacked and bitten by a dog – report it to the authorities.  Follow up with authorities after the attack to make sure that the dog’s owner complies with the requirements of that law. Most serious attacks that occur are perpetrated by repeat offenders.

If you have a dog – license it, train it and supervise its behavior in public. Don’t let it bark incessantly, don’t let it fight the neighbor’s dog through the fence and for doG’s sake, pick up its poop.

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