Is leaving dog poop on the street really that bad? Yes, science warned | biology

What is this smell? Is that what you think it is? She checks your shoes and adorns one of them with some sticky, smelly stuff. They stepped on a dog-type land mine.

We’ve all been there and we know that trails, nature trails, parks, playgrounds, and front lawns are not good places to find dog poop.

However, our streets and parks are still littered with dog poop. And with the pandemic leading to an increase in dog ownership, reports indicate that the dog waste problem has worsened in recent years.

In addition to the obvious ugliness and potential for unwanted contact with dog feces, there are other significant reasons why you might litter your dog. Here’s what you need to know and what the science says about joint efforts to prevent dogs from pooping in your yard.

The relationship of dog feces to diseases, contamination and antibiotic resistance

Dog feces can contain microorganisms that cause disease in humans, such as salmonella, Escherichia coli, giardia, and internal parasites. Dog poop can also be a potential reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which means that humans can develop difficult-to-treat bacterial infections through contact with dog feces.

study The last from Sydney Also identify dog ​​feces that have been washed in rainwater as a major contributor to water pollution. This topic, despite its importance and influence, has not received much attention from scholars. But fortunately, we have a few brave souls who can say that they have studied dog poop for the benefit of humanity.

This research revealed some patterns of dog feces in public places.

Where is the most common dog poop problem?

Dog feces are more common in parks where dogs are allowed off leash and areas near parking lots. How walkers traditionally use the area can also be an important factor, as a British study noted: litter box availability, path morphology, visibility, and location of the path are major factors in determining the incidence of dog feces.

The same study noted that while most dog walkers do the right thing, some are “too proud,” while others make contextual judgments about where and when to leave dog waste. Others, however, are “disengaged” dog walkers, who “don’t comply, even if they are aware of the consequences to health and the environment.”

Other research suggested keeping dogs on a leash between parking lots and off-leash areas and providing garbage disposal stations on popular dog walking routes. It doesn’t help if you have a neighbor who lets his dog out to relieve himself in the garden (or in your yard) or people who walk their dogs without carrying garbage bags.

And we all love those who poop but leave the bag tied to a fence or gate.

How about an old water bottle on a bluff?

Dog owners who fail to catch their dog’s poop can be fined, but catching them in the act can be difficult, and reporting a neighbor to the authorities can lead to ongoing hostility.

Bottled water on the lawn is an honored strategy for deterring dogs, but there is no evidence that it is effective and no clear reason why it should be. Sometimes dogs like to roam around and find the right place to defecate, so they may prefer an area with fewer obstacles. Perhaps a backyard filled with lawn ornaments may have some protection. (Interestingly, the science indicates that dogs can rotate like this to align their bodies to the north.)

There are commercially available dog deterrents, but there is little evidence of their effectiveness and under what conditions. Some believe that any strong odor can prevent an animal with a very strong sense of smell from staying long enough to defecate. But the scent does transmit, so extensive and frequent application is likely necessary (and this strategy could have unintended side effects on native urban ecosystems).

Educating the dog walker is key

In addition to providing bags and boxes and enforcing white-collar laws, particularly in parking lots near restricted areas, research suggests that education helps. Messages that emphasize good neighbors and community members diligently picking up after their dogs can be most effective when people respond to social messages.

If you’ve unsuccessfully tried to appeal to your neighbor’s sense of community, and aren’t interested in a garden full of garden pygmies and flamingos or awash in potential dog deterrent chemicals, you might try saving bags and promising a signal of vigilance.

To all the dog owners who care about their dogs, your community thanks you. The best way to dispose of dog waste is to put it in the trash. Composting requires high temperatures to neutralize leftover dog waste, and home composting is unlikely to get hot enough. Simply burying them allows these microorganisms to build up in the soil.

* Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sydney

This article was originally published in English on The Conversation