Why is Cleaning Up Pet Waste so Important?, Peoria, AZ – Arrowhead Pooper Scoopers

April 1-7 is International Pooper Scooper Week. The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (aPaws) has created this special awareness week to recognize the importance of cleaning up after your dogs. To celebrate and help educate pet owners on this important health and environmental topic, we want to bring you some facts on the dangers of pet waste.

Quick Health Facts:

• The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) classified pet waste as a dangerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals.
• Pet waste can spread parasites including hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms, salmonella, and roundworm.
• Roundworm eggs can remain active in the soil long after dog feces has weathered away.
• Children are most at risk. Roundworm can cause conditions such as stomach upsets, sore throats, asthma, and blindness.
• Dog feces is one of the leading sources of E. Coli contamination.
• 1 gram of dog feces contains over 20 million E. Coli bacteria.
• A compost heap will not become hot enough to kill the pathogens in dog feces.
• Pathogens in dog feces can contaminate your vegetable garden.

Environmental Statistics:

• The average dog produces 152 pounds of solid waste per year.
• In a city of 100,000 people, dogs can generate 2 ½ tons of feces per day.
• There are 78.2 million dogs in the US today. (ASPCA)
• Studies done in recent years put dog waste 3rd or 4th on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated waters. (Microbiologist from University of South Florida) USA Today.
• At Morro Bay, California, dogs contribute roughly 10% of the E. Coli, and that can be the difference between a beach closing and a beach not closing. (Microbiologist from California Polytechnic State University) USA Today

It is also important to be diligent about removing pet waste from your yard to help control disease and make your yard more usable. As mentioned above, feces can transmit disease to pets and humans. Dog waste also attracts flies which can bring disease into your home. As summer approaches and kids will be out of school, they will need a clean, safe place to play. Summer holidays also mean outdoor parties. Keep your yard clean to avoid any messy accidents.

Allow Arrowhead Pooper Scoopers Dog Waste Clean-up Service to make your life easier with complete cleanup and removal of all dog poop from yards, kennels and dog runs, because you have better things to do with your time! Starting at just $10 a week! We serve most of the Phoenix west valley, including Glendale, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise, plus parts of west Phoenix. Call us at 602-391-0160 or visit our website or Facebook page for more information. Enjoy a clean, safe, pet waste free yard year round.