If “every dog should have its day,” a whole week might make them feel even better. The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (aPaws) declared the week of April 1-7 International Pooper Scooper Week, utilizing this annual event to draw attention to the importance of cleaning up after canine friends.
“Dog waste can contain a lot of diseases and bacteria that people don’t know, about,” Paul Chesler, the president of aPaws said in an article on hometownstation.com. “It can contain tape worm, ringworm and whipworm. If you’re pregnant or on drug therapy, such as cancer patients, animal feces can pose a danger to you.”
Because the parasites and roundworm eggs common in dog dropping can stay in the ground for years, health issues linger long after the waste problem is visible to the naked eye. Even touching contaminated soil can make a person very sick.
Youngsters are at risk because they play in grass and dirt, and then are prone to rubbing their eyes and touching their mouths. Unborn babies are particularly susceptible to serious issues if their mothers come in contact with dog waste. Even someone just playing Frisbee or football in an area can become ill if they are exposed to this infectious waste. The dangers are real, aPaws has warned, adding that Pooper Scooper Week is “no joke.”
And the size of the pet waste issue is considerable. aPaws reports that the American Pet Association has estimated that 71 million pet dogs in the United States produce more than 4.4 billion pounds of waste annually, which could cover 900 football fields with 12 inches of poop. Many parks and public areas are equipped with pet waste stations, which contain the supplies you’ll need to clean up after Fido once he’s taken care of business.
Pet owners should be considerably aware of so-called “pooper scooper laws” in the communities where they live. You’ll be expected to have the necessary supplies with you to pick up your pet’s waste when you are out and about together. Failure to clean up after your animal could result in your having to pay a fine. Are you the environmentally conscious type? Remember that there are also biodegradable dog waste bags to lessen your impact on the environment even more.
If waste management isn’t exactly an appealing chore to handle around your home, an organization like aPaws might be able to help you get the assistance you need . There are professional pooper scoopers trained in removing pet waste using proper equipment and sanitary practices. Chesler advised people not to feel lazy about using help to tidy up after pets. Without professionals, he noted, pet owners who are ill or elderly might not be able to have a pet at all.
References
http://hometownstation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24054:pooper-scooper-clarita-2011-04-04-12-47&catid=26:local-news&Itemid=97
http://www.newsevo.com/retail-news/apaws-international-pooper-scooper-week-april-1-7/
http://apaws.org/
http://apaws.org/about/news/details.aspx?id=1077
http://www.apaws.org/health/details.aspx?id=1013
http://www.poopbags.com/
http://www.houstontx.gov/health/quicktips/law1.htm
Great article and a good reminder for folks to treat their neighbors with respect.
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