How to Properly Dispose of Dog Waste
Of all the things we cherish about our pets, dealing with their waste isn’t one of them (unless you have a very strange hobby). But being a responsible pet owner means cleaning up after your pooch – you’re not doing it to protect your neighbor’s Nikes; you’re doing it to protect community health.
The Diseases in Dog Waste
Sure, piles of dog poop mar sidewalks and parks, but the true danger exists in the form of bacteria. There are several toxins, including ringworm, roundworm, salmonella, and giardia, that can jump from a pile of poo onto shoes, pant legs, and hands before making their way into the body.
Unlike some fragile viruses (many viruses need a host to survive and die rapidly when exposed to the open air), bacteria tend to be heartier, lasting longer in the elements and thriving on porous surfaces. Some are quite good at overstaying their welcome – roundworm, for instance, can contaminate soil for years. They can even live in the human intestines for up to two years.
Dog Poop as Compost?
Some people brush off the need to pick up after their pet by claiming that it
acts as fertilizer; ergo, leaving it on the ground will make the foliage lush and rich. However, this conception is false, dangerous (to people, pets, and the soil), and likely perpetuated because of our use of cow manure.
It turns out that not all poop is equal: waste from cows and horses makes
good fertilizer and enhances the soil because cows and horses are plant-based eaters (herbivores that don’t eat meat). Dogs are carnivores with meat making up the lion’s share of their diet. This renders their waste
unsuitable for compost.
There is an exception where extreme heat is involved (heat at approximately 165 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of five days is needed in order to sterilize the dog poop). But even if the waste was exposed to such a hot environment, it would still be unfit for soil used to grow crops. It would also be something you didn’t want your children (or your pets) rolling around in.
The Proper Way to Dispose
So, we don’t just throw away our dog waste to prevent our neighbors from passive-aggressively complaining about us on social media or to avoid a steep fine levied by local governments; public health relies on it too. But that doesn’t mean tossing your dog’s after dinner doo-doo into a trash can and going on your way is enough. There’s a proper way to pitch the poop!
First of all, make sure you remove pet waste as soon as possible. When walking your dog, this is obvious – you remove it as soon as they finish. Yet in your backyard this is also important; aim to pick it up regularly (such as weekly).
It’s typically recommended that the waste be double-bagged and knotted to assure a proper seal. While this isn’t something most people do regularly, the extra plastic helps protect the garbage collectors from coming into contact with your dog’s waste (at the very least, be sure you use a bag and don’t just throw the waste into a bin void of any sort of protective containment). And, of course, don’t forget to wash your hands afterwards.
Dog waste is an inevitably of pet owners – no matter how tiny our dog, the types of food we feed them, or how much bran we withhold – poop happens
and happens a lot. But (and butt) we love our pooches anyway.
JJ Keeler lives in Colorado with a house full of pets. She owns three dogs, two cats, and a hamster she bought as a bribe to get her daughter to ride the school bus. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado and has worked as a professional writer for fifteen years. Her clothes are perpetually covered in pet hair.
