The concept of dog waste management wasn’t so popular until recently. People weren’t concerned about the leftovers after their pet walk. This resulted in a lot of poop getting collected along the street and by the roadside, until some people actually started to curb their dogs.
Curbing is a term used to define the process – shove-it-off-the sewer approach. Here, owners train their dog to poop near the curb, so that it gets drained into the nearest gutter and into the sewer system and ends into some stream or river next time it rains. Doesn’t it sound wrong already?
This process was thoughtful but started creating a lot of environmental hazard. The river was polluted with the dog waste as dog poops contain various harmful bacteria that can cause people sick. Seriously sick at times. So, the best step taken next was dog waste management.
What can pet owners do?
- Bag the poop- it is the easiest and best way to get rid of the waste. Simply use a plastic bag to pick up the poop. Drop the bag in the nearest bin or flush it down the toilet once you are home. It is not a big deal, if you use a big size plastic bag and follow instructions given below:
- Wear the plastic bag like a glove
- Pick the poop with the bagged hand
- Pull the bag inside out with another hand
- Tie a knot in the bag and drop it in a near bin or dog waste stations
- Scoop the poop – if you think picking up poop with your hand is simply gross, use a pooper scooper. However, this method is not as convenient as the poop bags as you have to carry the scooper around.
- Dispose the poop – if you don’t want to drop the poop in the outside bin or use waste stations, you can acquire a waste digester system to manage the poop.
Dog waste management for community or dog parks
The most common question that comes into mind is how many dog waste stations you need. Well, there is no hard and fast rule to it. It is according to the flow of dogs in the area.
- For dog parks, it is better to always put stations at entry and at exit so that owners can pick up bags while they enter the park and then dispose while they come out.
- For community, you may want to place the stations near dog walk area or in the absence of such, any grassy area.
- A good tip for placement of dog waste station is in a shady area. This will give owners time in shed as they drop the poop bag as well as ensure reducing poop odor.
- A rough estimate would be to place one station per acre.
- For apartments, one station would be enough to cover 50-80 units.
- It is best to start with fewer stations placed in the most needed areas. Give it time and analyze the need to place more.