DOGS: Major pile up

Now that winter’s snow is on the way out and spring is bringing in warmer weather, it’s great to get outside and enjoy the beautiful Idaho outdoors again. However, as I walk along the streets, sidewalks and bike paths, I’m appalled at the amount of dog waste littering the walkways — mile after mile, pile after pile.

Dog poop not only smells bad, but it is a legitimate danger and its dangers come in several forms.

Dog waste is very acidic and will kill grass if left unattended. Putting it in a garden as fertilizer can contaminate your fruits and vegetables with harmful bacteria. Just allowing the runoff into your garden can make your produce unsafe.

If your dog visits the park and someone else left dog poop with worm eggs laying on the ground, your dog is vulnerable. It can carry human-infecting ailments, too, including vicious parasites. Your dog’s feces can include: Giardia, Salmonella, Leptospira, E coli, Parvo virus, Roundworms and up to 23 million coliform bacterial per gram of poop.

When rain washes over dog poop and flows into the drainage system, that contaminated water is carried into our local waterways. So, if you are out enjoying Idaho’s beautiful lakes and rivers, this means the fecal water is mixed in where you enjoy swimming and boating.

The next time you take your dog to the park or out for a run or walk, PLEASE take time to clean up. And to the many considerate, thoughtful dog owners who regularly pick up after their pets, thank you for being responsible.

KAY LYNN SANDS

Coeur d’Alene