The Science Behind
Picking Up After Your Pet
Who hasn't experienced the nose-pinching displeasure of having
to hose off a shoe after stepping into a pile of a neighbor's
thoughtlessness? But the inconvenience left behind by folks not picking up
after their pets is only a small part of the story.
Did You Know:
∙ Giardia, salmonella and E. coli are only some of the
contaminants that can flourish in animal waste, and can be transmitted to
both humans and animals via storm-water runoff and ingestion of infected
groundwater.
∙ Animal waste contains high levels of nitrogen, which
following a rain often gets into nearby ponds, lakes and canals, and depletes
oxygen. This toxicity can wipe out fish and underwater grasses and promote
algae blooms.
∙ Remember warnings not to run barefoot outdoors or suffer
"worms"? While as kids our imagined version of the offending
critters might not have been entirely accurate, round- and hookworm can
thrive for long, long periods in waste and surrounding grass, and can
transmit to humans.
At CAMS, we thank you for picking up after your pet and know
your neighbors appreciate it too.
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