Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

You may find canines to be nice, cute, and adorable. But when they start pooping it’s safe to say that you might feel somewhat less inclined to think that way.

Sure, it’s not their fault at all, but cleaning up after your dog can feel really uhm… crappy. This is perhaps the worst part about keeping a dog.

However, this is one unpleasant chore that you cannot skip. You will have to take responsibility and do your duty. After all, it’s your dog and you chose to be the pet parent.

You must clean up quickly without question for the sake of public health and the environment. You should also hasten to clear up the mess to remain on the right side of the law.

In several jurisdictions, not cleaning up your dog’s unwanted offering is in violation of the rules. Such a negligent act is also very much against people’s sensibilities. Nobody wants to run into your dog’s poop.

Here is why cleaning up after your dog matters a lot.

Compliance with the Rules

Most municipalities, communities, and zones stipulate clearing up the mess that your dog has left behind.

That is why parks and other public spaces have plenty of conspicuous signs that admonish pet parents to clean up after their pooches. But that is pretty much well known.

What some people may not know is that many homeowner associations require cleaning up even if it is your own yard. So if your dog does its thing in your yard, then it is your duty to clear it all. You cannot argue that it is your lawn and that it’s nobody’s business. Not cleaning up the scene of the crime will ruin the hygiene and appeal of the neighborhood.

Even in public places where there are no signs for cleaning up, you will still have to do your bit when Fido chooses to answer the call of nature at the wrong place and the wrong time. Ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the law. You are expected to know the rules in your locale.

And speaking of ignorance, whoever said that ignorance is bliss certainly did not have your best interests at heart. For you will discover quite the contrary when you are hit with fines and lawsuits for breaking the law even if it was out of ignorance. So be warned and know that you are in for a rude awakening if you think that you can excuse yourself in this way.

No, Dog Poop and Fertilizer Are Not the Same

One common myth is that dog poop is not that bad since it can supposedly double as fertilizer.

Nothing could be further away from the truth. Far from being a fertilizer, dog poop is a toxic health hazard.

So those who think that they can leave dog poop lying around in their lawn are in for a nasty surprise. According to PetHelpful, dog waste is toxic for grass. You will just end up killing the grass wherever there is dog poop if you don’t clean it up.

Don’t mistake dog poop for cow’s manure. Cow’s manure is more akin to composted grass and therefore suitable as a fertilizer source.

The same cannot be said for dog poop though. This waste matter has high acidity due to the carnivorous diet of your dog and its microbiome. The pH is thus too low for grass. So never add dog poop to compost or even think of using it as fertilizer. The dangerous bacteria could also contaminate any vegetables that you may be growing.

Not Contaminating the Area

Imagine if no dog walker ever took responsibility for their dog’s unpleasant deposits. All walkways, pavements, and promenades would become unsanitary, unhygienic, and outright hazardous to health. You will not want to walk in an area where you come across dog waste every few feet.

Environmental contamination is a big issue when there are lots of dogs in an area. And just about every neighborhood has plenty of canines in the US since most households keep a pet at some point.

The ecosystem can withstand the waste from just one or two dogs for each square mile. But when dog density increases then toxic problems start piling up. The environment will quickly become toxic if there are even a few dogs per square mile for which owners don’t clean up. And considering that there are around 125 dogs per square mile on average in urban settings, dog poop can quickly overwhelm the ecosystem if owners don’t take responsibility.

Avoiding Dangerous Pathogens

Dogs are carriers of dangerous pathogens that are extremely detrimental to your health as well as that of others. And don’t think that your dog poses no danger if it is healthy. Even healthy dogs have parasites and bacteria that can spread to children and other pets.

You don’t even need to step on dog poop to get contaminated with dangerous pathogens. You will certainly know how flies like to congregate on dirty things. That’s bad news for human beings. For flies can transmit pathogens by descending on humans after running wild on dog poop. You could thus be contaminated with dangerous pathogens without even knowing if one such unscrupulous fly chooses to land on you.

How to Clean Up After Your Dog

Cleaning up is as simple as collecting the waste matter in a disposable bag. You can dump the bag in a trash can after tying it securely.

Although you can use plastic bags, it would be much for the environment if you resort to biodegradable bags. You can find these in pet supply outlets.

If it is on your lawn, then you could pick it up with toilet paper and flush it down the toilet.

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.