Pet Waste

Pet waste contains a lot of bacteria that can contaminate streams, lakes and ponds. One study found that a single gram of dog feces contains 23 million fecal coliform bacteria. In addition, pet poop contains nitrogen and phosphorus, two elements that fertilize aquatic plants and make them grow out of control. The more poop, the more bacteria, nitrogen and phosphorus. The solution is to scoop up after pets and dispose of their waste properly.

You may want to select pet waste as an Action Issue if a lot of your citizens have pets that they walk in areas adjacent to streams or that are drained by curb and gutter. You also should consider if your citizens would be receptive to changing their behavior regarding pet waste disposal.

Target Audiences

Pet owners
Kennel owners and operators
Veterinarian and animal hospitals
Dog clubs that host dog shows or have dog training programs
Animal pounds

Approaches

The first step is to determine how to properly dispose of pet waste is in your community. Some communities want it bagged and put in the garbage, not flushed. Other communities will allow pet waste to be disposed either way. Check with your local waste water treatment plant and solid waste disposal staff before you craft the message to your citizens.

Your pet waste campaign can be targeted to pet owners by providing brochures, scooper bags and other giveways at vet’s offices and pet stores. You can also get the message out by sending mailings to pet owners (if your county keeps a list of registered pets) and making public service announcements.

Sign posting is another excellent strategy. Signs can be used to designate areas where dog walking is prohibited entirely, where waste must be fully recovered, or where dogs can roam freely. Some communities have also installed "pet waste stations" with waste receptacles as well as a supply of disposal waste collection bags, scoops, and shovels.

Many communities have "pooper-scooper" laws that govern pet waste cleanup. Some of these laws specifically require anyone who takes an animal off his or her property to carry a bag, shovel, or pooper-scooper. Some of these laws also include fines that can offset some of the program costs.

Existing Educational Materials

Do not use any materials on this website without first contacting the sponsoring organization and obtaining their permission.

Slogans

Scoop the poop (Austin, TX)
Storm Drains are for Rain, They are not Pooper Scoopers (County of Los Angeles, CA)

Public Outreach

Mutt Mitts (Austin, TX) are bag dispensers in public parks designed to make scooping poop painless.
Mutt Mitts and Dispensers for Sale (Intelligent Products, Inc.)
More than 150 canines showed up at a Southern California pet store to put their paw print on a pledge to make sure their owners clean up their waste.

Mass Media: News Releases

Four Mile Run Bacteria Sources Determined (Northern Virginia Planning District Commission)

Mass Media: TV Advertising and PSAs

Fowl Water (City of San Diego, CA) explains how pollution (including pet waste) travels from streets and yards into storm drains and eventually our waterways. Contact the City of San Diego at 619-525-8649.

Public Venues: Signs & Billboards

Giveaways

Print Materials: Brochures

Print Materials: Detailed Technical Information

NVPDC’s Pilot Dog Park Project (Northern Virginia Planning District Commission)