Dog poo can be a major worry for local communities and councils because of the potential health, environmental and amenity impacts.
Concern about the presence of dog poo in public places such as streets, parks and on beaches often rates highly in public opinion surveys.
The problem with dog poo
Some dog droppings contain harmful bacteria and nutrients. They can be washed through the stormwater system into natural waterways and Port Phillip Bay, which may contribute to excessive E. coli pollution readings on beaches following heavy rainfalls.
Faeces of infected puppies or adult dogs may contain the roundworm, Toxocara Canis, which can be passed onto humans. Children, people with compromised immune systems and field sports players are most at risk of infection.
Some experts argue that in addition to problems arising from dogs off-leash behaving badly, dog poo is one of the main reasons why dogs are banned from certain public places, e.g., beaches.
Also dog poo in our streets, parks and on our beaches is smelly, unsightly, and very unpleasant to step in!
How much poo is there?
Around 900,000 dogs in Victoria produce 90 tonnes of dog poo each day!
Why don't owners pick up?
Jackson (2000) cites a number of reasons why dog owners may not pick up after their pet. These include:
- Distaste and/or embarrassment about picking up and carrying around a bag of dog poo. Distaste includes the smell, the sensation of handling dog poo and the possibility of coming into direct contact with it.
- Forgetting to take an appropriate device, such as a bag or pooper scooper.
- Inconvenience associated with having to take bags/devices on walks, and carrying them once full, particularly if no bins are available.
- Not being aware of the need to pick up after their dog, or not caring about it (e.g. believing dog poo is natural and will 'break down over time').
- Believing there is a low likelihood of being caught and/or fined by council for not picking up dog poo.
Situational factors existing in the public place may influence an owner's decision to pick up. For instance, as many people are now aware that picking up dog poo is the responsible thing to do, peer pressure may mean they are more likely to pick up if other people are around. Dog owners are more likely to pick up dog poo if:
- they see other owners doing the same thing
- the area is already fairly clean
- bag dispensers and bins are in close proximity
- owners see the dogs defecating while off leash (however, owners may decide it is too much effort to go over to where the dog has defecated).
How to clean up after your dog
Nowadays, it is generally accepted that cleaning up after dogs is part of being a responsible pet owner.
Most councils require dog owners to remove and dispose of their dog's poo when in public places. Some councils also require dog owners to carry an appropriate receptacle (e.g., bag or scoop) to remove dog poo, whenever they are walking their dog in a public place. Dog owners can be fined for not complying.
Cleaning up after your dog is easy. You can use plastic or biodegradable bags, trowels or pooper scoopers. Personal bag carriers are available that attach to your dog's leash to store plastic bags for use during walks.
Keep your bags/pouches/pooper scoop products with your leash, as a reminder to take them with you.
If using the plastic bag method for cleaning up, simply put your hand inside the bag, pick up the dog poo, turn the bag inside out, then seal. You can tie the bag to your dog's leash or carry it until you get to an appropriate disposal site.
Dispose of your bags in council-provided dog litter bins, or in your bin at home, but not the recycling bin! You could also compost your dog poo either in composting units or worm farms. Visit EcoRecycle Victoria's website for more information on composting.
You can be fined for not picking up
Most councils have local laws relating to dog poo removal, or a requirement to carry an appropriate receptacle for picking up, with fines generally ranging from $50 to $200.
For more information on responsible pet ownership
Contact your local council, or visit www.pets.info.vic.gov.au.