It’s a common misconception: dog poop is just another form of fertilizer, right? Wrong! While cow manure might be beneficial for your garden, dog waste is a different story.
At Department of Doody, we’re passionate about responsible pet waste removal. Here’s why leaving dog poop on the ground isn’t doing your lawn any favors:
1. Dog Poop is NOT Fertilizer
Unlike herbivore manure (like from cows or horses), dog waste is not a good source of nutrients for your lawn. Here’s why:
- High Acidity: Dog poop is highly acidic due to their diet. This acidity can burn your grass and create unsightly brown spots.
- Harmful Bacteria and Parasites: Dog waste contains harmful bacteria and parasites like E. coli, roundworms, and Giardia, which can contaminate your lawn and pose health risks to humans and other animals.
- Unbalanced Nutrients: Dog poop doesn’t offer the balanced nutrients that plants need to thrive. It’s high in nitrogen but lacks essential elements like phosphorus and potassium.
2. Environmental Impact
Leaving dog poop on the ground can have negative environmental consequences:
- Water Contamination: Rain can wash dog waste into storm drains and waterways, polluting water sources and harming aquatic life.
- Disease Transmission: Parasites in dog waste can infect wildlife and other pets.
- Unpleasant Odor: Let’s face it, dog poop doesn’t smell great! It can make your yard less enjoyable.
3. Health Risks
Dog waste poses health risks to humans, especially children:
- Parasite Infection: Children playing in the yard can come into contact with parasites and become infected.
- Bacterial Contamination: Touching contaminated soil or grass can lead to bacterial infections.
4. Unsightly and Unpleasant
No one wants to step in dog poop! It’s unsightly and can make your yard less enjoyable for everyone.
The Responsible Solution: Proper Disposal
The best way to handle dog waste is to pick it up promptly and dispose of it properly. Here are some options:
- Bag It and Trash It: Use biodegradable poop bags to pick up waste and dispose of it in your trash bin.
- Flush It: Some communities allow flushing dog waste down the toilet.
- Compost It: If done correctly with a dedicated dog waste composting system, you can compost dog waste. However, this requires careful management and the compost shouldn’t be used on edible plants.
Department of Doody: Your Partner in Pet Waste Removal
At Department of Doody, we provide professional and reliable dog waste removal services for residential and commercial properties. Our trained technicians will keep your yard clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
Contact us today for a free quote and let us handle the dirty work!
