This message is brought to you by the local governments participating in the Regional Storm Water Management Program.
Think not picking up after just one dog, doesn't matter much?
How about not picking up after 1.2 million dogs?
For the love of your pet, please DOO the right thing!
 Did You Know? Parvovirus is a serious, highly contagious disease that affects dogs of any age, breed, or sex.
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It is highly contagious to unvaccinated puppies. A dog may be a carrier of the disease without even showing signs of being infected. It affects the intestinal lining, causing diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, and even death. It is transmitted by contact with infected dog waste either directly or indirectly through soiled shoes, car tires, and anything else that it touches. The virus can remain infectious on the ground for six months or even longer! Pet waste can also be carried away by storm water runoff and deposited into nearby creeks and lakes. That’s why it is important to not leave dog waste on the ground. Help keep pets safe and healthy by picking up after your dog.
Below is more information you may want to know about pet waste, health, and the environment.
Click here to find out how you can help DOO the Right Thing.
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Quick links:
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View the DOO the Right Thing animations (developed by the cities of Irving, Farmers Branch, Sherman, Lewisville, Grand Prairie and Plano)
Other Related Environmental Issues:
Animal waste is a serious water quality problem that is often overlooked. Pet waste accumulates on surfaces such as streets, sidewalks and lawns where it can be readily washed into storm drains and into the nearest stream, creek or lake.
Waste from animals such as dogs, cats, cows and waterfowl may contain disease-causing organisms, bacteria and viruses that are harmful to both humans, pets and other animals. Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth in lakes and streams.
For swimming and recreation, water should contain
no more than 100 fecal colonies per 100 milliliters
(100mls) of water. Drinking water must contain no
fecal coliform. Human illnesses that can result from
fecal coliform ingestion include dysentery, hepatitis,
typhoid fever and ear infections.Your pet's health could also be at risk by coming into contact with other dog's waste that has been left on the ground.
The estimated dog population in North Central Texas is approximately 1.2 million dogs. The Food and Drug Administration estimates that the average dog produces 3/4 lbs. of waste per day. That's approximately 900,000 lbs. of dog poop produced every day in North Texas.
Since many dog owners enjoy leisure walks with their dogs, care should be taken to pick up after any waste and not leave it on the ground where it can runoff into the storm drain and directly into the nearest waterway without getting treated. Unlike cats, most dogs don't use litter boxes prefering instead to use the yard. So it is also important to pick up waste from yards to prevent runoff when it rains or when watering the lawn.
Tips for Dealing with Pet Waste
- Attach a small bag or pouch to your dog’s leash so that you can always carry a supply of baggies.
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 Be creative in re-using materials for picking up pet droppings! Save plastic bread bags, plastic newspaper sleeves, or plastic produce bags and use them as scooping baggies.
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 When using a baggie or plastic bag, slip it over your hand like a mitt, pick up the droppings, hold a top corner of the bag with your other hand, and quickly flip it inside-out. Then, dispose of it in a trash can.
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 Once a week, clean up droppings around your yard and either flush them down the toilet, or dispose of in the trash can. Pet waste composters are available commercially, check them out.
Top Dog Photo Contest 2008
Think your dog has the cutest face? The best eyes? The funniest expression? Show off your dog in the Top Dog Photo Contest. Throughout the months of May, June, July, and August we will feature the Top Dogs of all our Canine Citizens who have taken the pledge to DOO the Right Thing! For more Information >>>
Pledge to DOO the Right Thing!
- Mailing address: NCTCOG-E&D Doo the Right Thing P.O. Box 5888, Arlington TX
- Fax pledges only: 817-695-9191
- Email address: eblackman@nctcog.org
Brochure about pet waste from the City of Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie's Pet Waste Brochure in English or Spanish [PDF].
Dog Parks in the DFW Metroplex
Arlington, Tails n' Trails, www.txruff.org
Dallas, Bark Park Central & White Rock, www.barkparkcentral.com & www.whiterockdogpark.com/
Denton, Wiggly Field, www.cityofdenton.com/pages/dogpark.cfm
Euless, Villages of Bear Creek, www.ci.euless.tx.us/eulesstoday/2008SpringSummer/VillagesOfBearCreekDogBarkPark.htm
Fort Worth, Fort Woof, www.fortworthdogpark.org
Grand Prairie, Central Bark, www.pawpalsofgrandprairie.org
North Richland Hills, Tipps Canine Hollow, www.nrhtx.com/dept_parks_tipps.aspx
Plano, Jack Carter, www.planoparks.org/sub_parks/dog_park.htm
Southlake, Boo Boo's, www.booboosbuddies.org/
References:
FDA Consumer magazine, Keeping Pets (and People) Healthy, January-February 2004 Issue. www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/104_pets.html
Washington State Department of Ecology. Focus on Pet Waste Management. www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0310053.pdf
Pacific Shellfish Institute. www.pacshell.org/ScoopyHome.htm
Working Dogs Health Articles. www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm
Canine Parvovirus. www.cpvh.com/Articles/39.html
Fun Links:
101 Reasons to pick up pet waste (Snohomish County)
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