How You Can Help
Join the "Pooches for the Planet" Pack!
Make your furry pal a friend of the environment by picking after your pet.
Proper disposal of pet waste prevents harmful fecal coliform bacteria and excess nutrients from washing into Tampa Bay.
Sure, the waste produced by one dog may not seem like a big deal, but multiply that by the estimated 500,000 dogs that live in the Tampa Bay watershed and it can really add up to a pile of problems for our rivers, streams and bays.
For more information about pet waste, download our "Getting the Scoop on Poop!" educational material.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Waste
1. Why should I be concerned about dog poop?
Everyone wants the water they drink, swim in or fish in to be clean, but recent studies have found that 95 percent of a disease-causing bacteria called fecal coliform found in urban watersheds comes from animals. Dogs are a key source of this pollution because so many of us have canine companions.
Dog feces left on the ground wash into the nearest pond, lake, stream or bay when it rains. Just one ounce of dog feces contains 23 million microorganisms of bacteria - nearly twice that of human waste.
Dog waste also adds nutrients to our waterways, and most of Tampa Bay - and the rivers and streams that flow into it - already have too much nitrogen. Excess nutrients promote the growth of algae that clouds the water and prevents vital seagrasses from receiving the sunlight they need to grow. Severe algae blooms can consume dissolve oxygen in the water, killing fish and other aquatic creatures.
2. How big is the problem?
The average-size dog produces about a half-pound of poop per day. According to rabies license records, there are about 500,000 dogs in the Tampa Bay region. Altogether, they generate about 125 tons of poop each day. Bow WOW!
Surveys indicate that nearly 40 percent of people don't pick up after their pets. In our area, that means an average of 50 tons of dog poop is left on the ground each day. That can lead to a pile of problems!
3. How does dog poop affect human health?
Ingesting water contaminated with coliform bacteria can make people ill, causing diseases such as giardiasis and salmonella. The feces also can contain hookworms, roundworms and other parasites that can be spread to adults and children walking barefoot or playing in the grass near dog waste.
4. Why is dog poop more of a pollution problem than cat feces, or that of other animals, or even wildlife?
While cats and other domestic and wild animals certainly contribute to fecal coliform levels, one interesting difference is that a dog produces 23 million fecal coliform bacteria per gram of feces, or 10 times that of a cow. An average-size dog dropping contains 3 billion fecal coliform bacteria, much higher than most other animals. Urban areas like ours have large concentrations of dogs, contributing unnaturally high levels of bacteria to our waterways.
Feral cats and pet cats that live outdoors add to the poop problem, but many pet cats live pampered lives indoors, where they use the litter box, and that waste is either thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet.
5. Can't I just put the dog doo down the storm drain?
It's not as simple as out of sight, out of mind. Storm drains in our region carry dog doo and other pollutants directly to the nearest waterway, NOT a sewage treatment plant. The land area that drains into Tampa Bay, its watershed, encompasses all of Hillsborough County, most of Pinellas and Manatee, and parts of Pasco and Polk. Ultimately, anything dumped or left on the ground in this vast area winds up in our bay.
6. What is the best way to dispose of dog doo?
Your best bet is to pick up your dog's doo in a bag, and either flush it down the toilet (where it will be treated at your local sewage plant) or place it in a garbage can.
7. If I dispose of my dog's waste in the trash can, won't it just go to a landfill? Isn't that just transferring pollution from one place to another?
In Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, the vast majority of our trash (including bagged dog waste) is sent to waste-to-energy facilities, where it is burned to produce electricity and sold to area power companies.
In Manatee, Pasco and Polk counties, landfills are the primary disposal options. However, modern landfills are designed with special liners and other safeguards required by environmental laws to ensure that chemicals and bacteria in the trash don't leak and contaminate water supplies. So bagging your dog's poop and putting it in a trash can is ALWAYS a better choice than leaving it on the ground.
8. Should I buy biodegradable bags for my dog, too?
It's certainly not necessary to buy biodegradable bags if you live in an area where trash is burned to produce energy. Biodegradable pet waste bags are a good option for dog owners who live in areas served by landfills, and there are now biodegradable, flushable bags for those who dispose of dog waste in a toilet.
The pet supply industry is jumping on the "green pet ownership" bandwagon in a big way, with a variety of new poop bags and attractive bag dispensers on the market. But all you really need to do is wrap a newspaper bag around your dog's leash, or stuff one in your pocket, before taking Fido for a walk.
9. Why weren't we concerned about dog poop, say, 30 years ago?
We have learned a great deal about all sources of pollution in recent decades, and that knowledge is helping us to improve water quality through a variety of solutions. In the case of dog waste, advances in DNA testing and isotope analysis have specifically traced bacterial pollution in several urban waterways back to dog feces. Dog waste certainly isn't the pollutant in our waterways, but it is one of the easiest to prevent.
Adopt A Dog, Get Free Stuff, Prevent Water Poo-lution
From November 2009 through January 2010, adopt a dog at the Pinellas County Animal Services shelter or the Humane Society of Pinellas shelter and get a free Pooches for the Planet adoption kit filled with valuable information and free goodies for you and your new family member!
The program is part of a campaign to promote proper disposal of dog waste to prevent water pollution. TBEP thanks the Pinellas-Anclote Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District for funding this special promotion.
Additionally, dozens of area pet-related businesses have contributed toys, treats and discount coupons for pet products or services for the adoption kits.
Every day in Pinellas County, an estimated 12-28 tons of dog poop is left on the ground. Pet waste contains disease-causing bacteria, viruses and lots of nutrients. Unfortunately, this waste does not stay on the grass but gets washed down the storm drains and delivered untreated to the closest waterway during rain events
Pooches for the Planet partners hope to encourage responsible pet ownership through a 3-month promotion with the two animal shelters. From November through January, anyone who adopts a dog from the county or Humane Society shelters will receive an eco-friendly Pooches for the Planet reusable shopping bag filled with valuable goodies, including:
- A Bags on Board pet waste bag dispenser that clips to a leash
- A Pet Waste Cartoon CD
- Hand Sanitizer Spray
- A listing of county dog parks
- An immunization schedule card
- Discount coupons for a variety of pet services, such as grooming and pet sitting
- Treats, toys and other items donated by generous local and national pet care companies
Participating Shelters:
Pinellas County Animal Services
2450 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33774
For more information and hours, visit http://www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices
Humane Society of Pinellas
3040 State Road 590
Clearwater, FL 33759
For more information and hours visit http://humanesocietyofpinellas.org/
TBEP sends a big tail-waggin' THANK YOU to the following partners who have contributed to the Pinellas animal shelter promotion:
Become a Pooches for the Planet Business Partner
Show your support the solution to poo-lution through proper disposal of pet waste and
receive a cool static cling to display on your store window or affix to vehicle windows.
And we'll recognize you on our website as a "Pooches for the Planet" partner, including
a web link to your business!
» Click here to become a "Pooches for the Planet" business partner
Bag Buddies: Sponsor a Pet Waste Station in Pinellas County
Pinellas County Parks & Recreation Paw Playgrounds are in need of financial assistance to keep the pet waste dispensers stocked with bags for pet waste disposal. This is a terrific opportunity for pet-related businesses to gain valuable exposure to potential customers while demonstrating their commitment to "green" pet ownership.
Bag Buddies will be acknowledged with a special nameplate on the pet waste station, and through publicity by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and Pinellas County.
For more information on this program, contact Debbie Chayet with the Pinellas County Department of Culture, Education & Leisure.
PHONE: 727-582-2521
EMAIL: dchayet@pinellascounty.org
The average cost for pet waste bags annually is $6,000 per Dog Park, or approximately $42,000. This is based on 7 Paw Playgrounds, including 2 facilities at Ft. DeSoto Park
Paw Playgrounds are located at the following parks:
NORTH PINELLAS
- Anderson Park
- Chesnut Park
CENTRAL PINELLAS
- Sand Key Park
- Boca Ciega Millennium Park
- Walsingham Park
- Eagle Lake Park (not yet open)
SOUTH PINELLAS
Currently the Friends of Ft. DeSoto Park contribute towards the cost of bags at the Ft. DeSoto Paw Playground facilities. None of the other Paw Playgrounds receive any assistance.
The Paw Playgrounds get extensively used at each park. Use is so high that it is difficult to keep turf alive in the playgrounds. The playgrounds have become daily social activities for pets and people alike.
Donations of bags can be accepted, as well as monetary donations, or grants. Pinellas County is willing to place an acknowledgement nameplate on the dispenser at the Paw Playground that acknowledges the donation of the bags by the sponsor for the duration of the donation period
Take the "Pooches for the Planet" Pledge and Get a Free Gift!
If you already have a dog, take the "Pooches for the Planet" pledge
and get a free Photo Pal Magnet to showcase a photo of your canine companion.
» Click here to take The "Pooches for the Planet" pledge
Watch a Short Cartoon Video
To watch a video about how pet waste pollutes our waterways, visit http://www.stormwater.ucf.edu/research/petwaste.htm
