It’s a dirty job, but you really should do it. Picking up your pooch’s poop is a part of responsible dog ownership. Besides just being considerate towards others, there are some pretty important reasons why you should always pick up after your pet.
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Don’t pollute!
Studies have shown that animal waste, especially from dogs, plays a roll in polluting our waters. Runoff from our cities and towns carries bacteria and nutrients from decaying animal waste into our water systems, where the introduced bacteria can cause illness. The excess amount of nutrients can cause overgrowth of algae in the waters, which can be damaging to the waters’ natural inhabitants.
Disease Transmission
Dog poop left outside can lead to parasite and disease transmission to other pets, and even to wild animals. You all know how much your dog likes to sniff at the droppings of other animals. As gross as it is, some dogs take things a bit further than just a sniff. Contaminated feces can transmit parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, coccidia, and giardia. Parvovirus can be deadly to dogs, and is also transmitted by feces.
Feces also contain large numbers of bacteria that can potentially cause illness in humans. Humans can also contract parasites from dog poop.
Unwanted visitors
Dog poop left outside can attract unwanted visitors, such as mice, rats, and insects.
It’s the law!
In many areas, cleaning up after you dog is the law. If caught not scooping, you could be faced with paying a fine. Cleaning up after you pet is just common courtesy. You are the one who decided to get a dog, so you should be the one to take the responsibility to clean up after it.
Health checks!
As gross as this might sound, it’s important to keep an eye on our pets’ output. There are a number of illnesses that will result in various bathroom issues. Owners who pick up after their dog will be more likely to notice when something is amiss quickly. In a lot of cases, the faster you notice a health issue in your dog, the easier it will be to treat. You don’t want unnoticed bathroom issues to go on too long, possibly getting worse over time.
Keeping an eye on our dogs’ health, preventing disease transmission to both humans and animals, reducing pollution, avoiding unwanted visitors such as mice, and following the law are all great reasons why you should always pick up after your dog when they go to the bathroom. Hey, you never know, if you set a good example, other dog owners in your area might also take the intuitive to clean up after their pets too. A cleaner community will make for a healthier environment for both the people and the pets living in it.
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