There are many people that just don?’t care about other people?’s property, they will let their pets use our yards and not even make an attempt to clean it up and this is disgusting.

There are also many other people that will let their pets walk around our neighborhood unsupervised and this is not the pet?’s fault but the fault of the inconsiderate and uneducated owners.

Studies show about half of all dog owners walk their dogs in public places, and up to 40 percent of them don't pick up after their pets.

Dog and cat waste left on the ground can be washed into storm sewers, most of which drain directly into natural water bodies. There the waste contributes to all sorts of problems from sick kids to mucky algae that suffocates fish and is sometimes poisonous to humans.

It seems like such a small amount when it's just your dog, but it really does add up. Many people don't realize how important it is to take care of their pet waste so it stays out of our lakes, rivers and streams.

The same bacteria that make pet waste dangerous to people in parks can make water unsafe for swimming or drinking. Children and others can get sick if they dunk their heads or accidentally get a mouthful of polluted water.

Children and others who play in yards or in parks where pets do their business can pick up illnesses from disease-causing bacteria and parasites. These include diarrhea, fever, muscle aches, headaches, vomiting, roundworms and toxoplasmosis (a parasite carried by cats that can cause birth defects if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy). Other pets can get sick too.

So, what should a responsible pet owner do?

Don't just throw your dog's business over the fence, yes, it will biodegrade eventually, but meanwhile it can cause problems for the rest of us.

Cleaning up after pets can be as simple as taking along a plastic bag on your next walk. The ''used'' bag can be disposed safely by securing the plastic bag and putting it in a nearby trashcan. At home, larger volumes of pet waste should be double-bagged to ensure it can be safely handled by local sanitation workers.

Homeowners who use septic systems should use another disposal method for pet waste. For example, pet waste can be buried in the yard, at least six inches deep, away from vegetable gardens, lakes, streams, ditches or wells.

Even in rural areas, if you leave your pet's waste to decay in your yard, try to make sure it doesn't cause a water pollution problem. Clean up near wells, storm drains, ditches and waterways, and always removes waste from areas where children play.

Diseases that can be passed from pet waste to humans:
Campylobacteriosis - a bacterial infection carried by dogs and cats that frequently causes diarrhea in humans.

Salmonellosis - the most common bacterial infection transmitted to humans by other animals. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting and diarrhea.

Toxocariasis - roundworms usually transmitted from dogs to humans, often without noticeable symptoms, but may cause vision loss, a rash, fever or cough.

Toxoplasmosis - a parasite carried by cats that can cause birth defects if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy. It can also be a problem for people with depressed immune systems.



I know that this is going on and I have tried to speak with the responsible parties, but it is like talking to a brick wall. Maybe we should start taking down addresses of these pet owners and send this information for you to publish on this site.