Just recently in the Calgary Herald there was an article on dog feces and how if coming into contact with human eyes, they can go blind. This was related to children. As a new mom this scared the HECK out of me!! Across from our house there is a green space that has just recently turned into an 'offleash park'. Well, that is what dog owners think. It isn't actually an offleash park. So bringing my little girl over to the geen space to play is now not only a worry to avoid unruly dogs but now to avoid the mounds of dog poop that people aren't cleaning up. She just recently learned to walk so falling down is a normal part of the walking routine. Falling on the ground has become even more of stress than ever!
When dogs defecate and owners do not pick up after them, feces thrive and are transferred into the ground. Here they are transferred to other dogs, humans and more particularly - children, because they spend alot of time falling, playing or crawing on the ground. When a child falls on the ground that has been contaminated with feces, stands up and goes to rub their eyes, the feces are transmitted to their eyes. Because of the parasites found in the dogs feces this causes blindess. An incredibly scary scenario which in my opinion can be avoided!!!!
How can this be avoided? Well - 1) deworm and vaccinate your dog!!!! 2) pick up after your dog!!!!! 3) avoid areas where children play. Keep your dog at off leash parks and other designated areas specific to dogs! Leave the kid areas for kids!
It's all about being responsible human beings! Whether you own a dog or don't!
Other scary facts about dog waste:
- dog waste adds nitrogen into the water which depletes oxygen - affecting wildlife and fish
- dog waste may carry giardia, salmonella and E.Coli which are all detrimental to our health
- hookworms and roundworms can live in soil for long periods of time that can infect other animals and humans
- a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria
- walking dogs and not picking up their feces accounts to majority of the pollutants in our water
- it is just plain nasty!!!!!!
Thank you for doing your part to be a responsible pet owner and having respect for those that don't own dogs!
ACTSS is a not-for-profit society dedicated to bringing affordable modern veterinary cancer treatment to pets. Through the programs, they provide subsidies to dedicated pet owners as well as educate animal owners and veterinarians on the availability, uses and benefits of advanced cancer therapy. ACTSS is ready to help... but funds are needed to help more families & their pets. Volunteers will be here from the society
