Dogs are considered meat eaters, and therefore it’s important to dispose of the waste in the garbage. Wastes from meat eaters should not be placed in a compost pile because the parasites, bacteria, and viruses are not readily destroyed during the composting process and can be passed on to humans.
While it’s common courtesy to pick up after your dog when you go on walks, it’s also a good idea to pick up after him at home. Some diseases can be transmitted form pet waste to humans through contact with the soil. Children playing outside and adults who garden are most at risk. We are here to help you with this chore.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Equality states:
“When water from rainfall flows across the landscape, it can wash soil particles, bacteria, pesticides, fertilizer, pet waste, oil and other toxic materials into our lakes, streams and groundwater. This Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution is difficult to control because it comes from a diverse number of activities including fertilizing lawns and farm fields, driving and maintaining our cars, constructing buildings and roads, plowing our fields for crops, and harvesting trees.”
The most important step that you as a homeowner with dogs can do to prevent polluted runoff is to collect animal waste before it washes into storm drains and pollutes our groundwater.
