To Scoop Or Not To Scoop?

An effort to create public awareness of "National Scoop The Poop Week" April 24-30 and the affects that dog waste has on the environment and ground water pollution.

(PRWEB) March 23, 2004 --Dog owners in northern parts of the U.S. are getting into their backyards as winter gives way to spring. They look at all the piles of dog waste there, and wonder where it all came from. Dog owners in southern parts of the country feel like they never get a break from the task of picking up their dogs waste.

The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (aPaws), a trade organization of professional pooper scoopers, is reminding everyone that National Scoop the Poop Week is April 24 -- April 30.

Leslie DeHart, owner of Hate To Doo! in Martinez, Ca. says, There are many reasons for scooping your dogs waste, such as preventing flies from bothering you and your neighbors, keeping your yard clean so that your children dont track it into the house, the prevention of groundwater pollution, and providing a more safe and healthy environment free from harmful viruses and bacteria associated with waste."

Many cities have scoop the poop laws. Fairfax, Virginia requires dog owners to remove their dogs waste from anothers property, including public property. Minneapolis, Minnesota dog owners must remove their dogs waste from public and private property, even the owners property. Seattle, Washington has perhaps the strictest laws, whereby dog owners must remove dog waste from their property within 24 hours after it has been deposited.

Iowa State University published a study about why people do not pick up their dogs waste. A 1999 survey in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, found that women are more likely to pick up the dogs waste than men. Also, many people are reluctant to handle dog waste. Their reasons include that it is too much work, that it eventually goes away, and just because". DeHart points out, Dog waste eventually goes away to pollute our rivers, lakes, and streams, when it is not picked up and disposed of properly. The Environmental Protection Agency has identified bacteria from dog waste as a pollutant in groundwater." DeHart also concedes that Dog poop isnt a subject that anyone wants to talk about, unless they are smelling it or stepping in it. So animal waste disposal services use awareness, education, and ordinances to alert residents of the proper disposal techniques, along with offering their services."    

Hate to Doo! is hosting a Scoop the Poop Day" for the Iron Horse Trail in Northern California on Saturday, April 24, 2004 to create awareness of National Scoop the Poop Week" in California. Volunteers starting from Heather Farms will scoop the poop and pick up trash along the Concord, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek stretch of this popular hiking trail. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Life Line and E.A.R.S. disaster relief grants offered by United Animal Nations. These programs help animals in disasters or people with unexpected veterinary bills if they are unemployed, or otherwise unable to pay.

Responsible dog owners have a choice for disposing of their pets waste. They can scoop after their pets, or they can hire a professional pooper scooper to come into their yard to do it for them. aPaws has a directory of professional pooper scoopers on its website, http://www.apaws.org so dog owners, whats your excuse for not scooping the poop? Pooper scoopers on the Find-A-Scooper Directory" agree that they will follow a Code of Conduct, maintain liability insurance for their company and also disinfect tools and boots after every yard.