Just a few additional reasons you should call PooBusters, LLC!

Dog owners, beware . . . Do you dump your dog’s waste in the storm sewer? Do you leave it to decay on the street, sidewalk or the grass? If so, you may be causing water pollution or health problems for you and your family.

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DID YOU KNOW…

• It is estimated that dog owners do not collect over 4 million tons of dog waste each year. Pet waste contains harmful bacteria and organisms that can spread disease. (See chart below.)
• Children who play outside, adults who garden and pets are most likely to become infected from the bacteria and parasites found in pet waste. Flies and rats may also spread diseases from dog waste.
• Be cautious! Keep dog and cat waste away from vegetable gardens and water supplies to prevent disease. DO NOT add pet waste to your compost pile. The pile will not get hot enough to kill disease organisms found in pet waste.
• Have a rat problem? Dog waste attracts and feeds rats. Wanna prevent or get rid of those pesky rodents?? Call PooBusters, LLC today!
• Disposing of dog waste improperly is not only dangerous in backyards, parks and common areas, it also makes water unsafe for swimming or drinking. Children and others can become ill while swimming under water or by accidentally getting a mouthful of contaminated water.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified pet waste as a nonpoint source of water pollution (polluted run-off that finds its way into our waterways directly or through sewage systems). Dog waste contains pathogens that enter our waterways. Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses that come from the fecal waste of animals. Other items listed as a nonpoint source of water pollution are toxic chemicals, fertilizers and gasoline.
• 20-30% of all pollutants in waterways are attributed to dog waste. Pollutants enter the waterways from snow or rainwater run-off via sewer systems and dogs defecating near watersheds or beaches. Overall, it is believed dog waste is third or fourth on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated waters. Might make you think next time you hear that a beach has been closed because it is unsafe for swimming…
• When pet waste is washed into lakes or streams the waste decays, using up oxygen and releasing ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can kill fish. Additionally, dog waste that enters the shellfish beds makes clams and oysters unsafe to eat.
• Pollutants commonly found in urban lakes, streams and ponds include:
  > Pet Waste
  > Oil and antifreeze
  > Toxic chemicals
  > Pesticides and fertilizers

Hazardous organisms found in dog waste

Scientific Name	Common Name	Survival rate	Human symptoms
Salmonella	Salmonella	Up to 6 months in feces. Extended exposure at 140˚F required to kill organism.	Usually mild gastroenteritis within 6-48 hours.
Toxocara canis	Roundworms, Toxocariasis	4 years in the soil	VLM (visceral larva migrans) leading to hepatomegaly, myocarditis, nephritis, pulmonary inflammation, and blindness, usually in children.
Baylisascaris procyonis	Roundworms	Eggs can survive on moist soil for years.	Severe neurological form of VLM, especially in young children.
Ancylostoma spp.	Hookworms	Several days. No known effective chemical or pesticide. Prompt removal of dog and cat feces greatly reduces risk of infection.	Spreading lesions and severe pruritis. In rare instances can cause symptoms like VLM (see Toxocara). Puppies are a significant source of infection.
Escherichia coli	E. coli, Fecal coliform bacteria	Up to 4 months in ruminant feces. Extended exposure at 140˚F required to kill organism.	Bloody diarrhea, severe cramps, HUS (leading to kidney failure), and TPC.
Campylobacter spp.	Campylobacter	Rapidly killed by heat, drying, and freezing.	Mild to severe, bloody diarrhea.
Cryptosporidium parvum		At least 6 months. Susceptible to drying.	Self-limiting gastroenteritis, protracted in susceptible individuals. CDC reports 300,000 cases annually, 90% of waterborne origin.
Giardia duodenalis, Giardia lamblia, Giardia intestinalis	Giardia, Giardiasis	Resistant to drying, chlorination, and temperature extremes. Can survive for months in water and are relatively persistent during wastewater treatment.	Diarrhea, cramps, flatulence, nausea, steatorrhea. Can be protracted and debilitating. CDC estimates 2 million cases in U.S., 90% of waterborne origin.
Yersinia enterocolitica	Yersinia enterocolitica	Unknown.	Gastroenteritis.
Leptospira interrogans	Leptospirosis	Weeks to months in soil or water.	Usually mild fever but complications can be serious, including hepatitis, jaundice, meningitis, and kidney failure. Life threatening, but uncommon. There has been a recent increase in the numbers of dogs with Leptospirosis.

Resource: Snohomish County, Online Government Information and Services

Keep your family and pets healthy! Dispose of your dog waste properly - call PooBusters, LLC today!