Unscooped Dog Poop Pollutes Local Water

The following was submitted by the DPW:

Did you know that unscooped dog poop can pollute our local waters? This spring, the Town of North Reading has partnered with the Greenscapes North Shore, a program coordinated by three organizations from across the North Shore — Salem Sound Coastwatch, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, the Eight Towns and the Great Marsh Committee — to educate its citizens on the importance of picking up after our pets.

Pet waste is raw sewage and dog waste has twice as much bacteria as human waste. A 40 pound dog produces 7.8 billion fecal coliform bacteria per day! Rain washes these bacteria into the nearest river and it ends up in the ocean—untreated.

A. Giardia, Salmonella and Campylocacter are some of the parasites, viruses and bacteria in doggy poo that can be transmitted to humans. Children are especially vulnerable. The symptoms are flu-like, vomiting, diarrhea, ear infections, rashes and fever.

In order to spread the word about the importance of scooping poop, the Greenscapes Program has created an information card for North Reading with facts and tips about how to keep dog waste out of our waters. These cards are available at local veterinary offices and at town hall where dog owners come to purchase dog licenses.

The message is clear: Scoop the Poop! Whenever and wherever… even in your own yard; even in the woods or remote locations, even in the snow and even if you have a small dog! Always bring bags and put filled bags in a trash can. Never put dog waste in a recycling bin or a storm drain. Storm drains flow directly into our local waters – they are not connected to the sanitary sewer.  Dog waste thrown in a recycling bin, even if tied in a biodegradable bag, makes the contents unusable for recycling.

Scooping poop is not just about the mess – it’s about clean water and our health! Help the town of North Reading spread the word about scooping the poop! Look for a Pet Waste Rack Card around your town, tell a friend, or give one to someone who needs to know.

This article was created by the Greenscapes North Shore Program, a coalition of three non-profit organizations working to encourage environmentally-friendly landscaping and yard care practices. The Greenscapes North Shore Coalition is made up of Salem Sound Coastwatch, Ipswich River Watershed Association, and Eight Towns and the Great Marsh Committee. For more information and to sign up for the Greenscapes email newsletter, visit www.Greenscapes.org.