By Windham’s Natural Resources Advisory Committee
March arrived like a lion this year. As it retreated like a lamb, we saw what was left behind as the snow melted – dog waste. We have all been there, taking our furry friend on a bathroom break as the snow is blowing sideways and you wish to be inside instead of staring at each other as they go number two.
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| A study conducted in 2021 at two locations in Windham including Donnabeth Lippman Park and the Mountain Division Trail found and removed 25.65 pounds of pet waste in a single day from those locations. Picking up pet waste helps the town stay clean and healthy. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE |
A study was conducted in Summer 2021 to record and analyze the prevalence of dog waste pollution at parks, trails, and beaches in fourteen communities in Cumberland and York Counties to establish a baseline and plan for future study (https://www.windhammaine.us/DocumentCenter/View/9333/Dog-Waste-Pilot-Study-2021).
Two locations were evaluated in Windham – Donnabeth Lippman Park and the Mountain Division Trail – on a single day and 25.65 pounds of pet waste were observed and removed. This results in estimated 640 pounds of dog waste improperly left behind annually, or 6 trillion fecal bacteria. Windham has 3,145 licensed dogs, therefore that annual total from two locations in town is only a drop in the bucket. Over the course of a year, one dog can produce 2.75 pounds of phosphorus and 2.8 trillion fecal bacteria in their waste. Therefore, the licensed dogs in Windham can produce a total of 8,648.75 pounds of phosphorus and 8.8 quadrillion fecal bacteria.
By not properly disposing of pet waste, it is left outside in the elements. When precipitation occurs, the nutrients and bacteria from the pet waste can make its way to waterbodies, potentially impacting water quality. According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Windham currently has five waterbodies impaired for bacteria – Pleasant River, Colley Wright Brook, Otter Brook, Black Brook, Inkhorn Brook.
This impairment means that those waterbodies are not reaching the bacteria criteria for their designated waterbody class. Dog waste is one of the plethora of potential sources of bacteria - several examples include septic systems, wildlife waste, agriculture & recreation. Therefore, the bacteria impairment of these waterbodies will not be solved by only removing dog waste as a source. However, dog owners can do their part to reduce it as much as possible. Several tips are included below to help.
Tips:
‘- Don’t Turn Your Walk into a Crapshoot: Ensure you always have dog poop bags (or reuse produce bags from your grocery shopping!) with you when you are with your pet, whether you are going out for just a few minutes to stretch your legs or a nice long walk. Make sure your bags are large enough to contain everything, especially if you have large breed. Be sure to pick up as much waste as you can, including the small pieces that might have fallen outside of the main waste pile. It’s always good to have a backup bag, just in case your dog poop bag breaks or another dog owner has found themselves without one.
- Be Aware of Your Dog’s Bathroom Habits: Does your dog go No. 2 as soon as they sniff the first patch of grass they see? Or maybe your pup needs a 20-minute warm up before finding the perfect spot to go potty? By keeping track of your dog’s bathroom habits, you’ll be able to predict when they go and even where they go, particularly for pups who are repeat bathroom offenders in the same location. Ensuring you know your pup’s habits means you can be ready when the call of the wild calls to them.
- Wipe Up Afterwards: In case a bag tears or some unfortunate mishap where you or your dog comes in close contact with the poop you’re picking up, a generous supply of wet wipes can come in handy.
- Go Hands-Free: For less frequent cleanups in your yard, use dog poop scoopers, rakes and bins, which enables you to sweep up the dog poop without having to bend down or come within arm’s reach of the mess. Whether you use a bag or a spade, be sure to answer the call of doody and pick up after your dog.’ (Chewy Editorial, 2021).
- Crappy Composting: Responsibly picking up your pet’s waste can add up over time. Rather than sending it straight to the trash can, you can compost it. Now, this tip takes time and resources to implement as well as adhering to proper protocols for the compost application. The U.S. Department of Agriculture factsheet on composting dog waste (https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-11/Composting-Dog-Waste-Booklet-Alaska.pdf) breaks down the process step-by-step and provides various compost bin designs that will fit your needs. *Disclaimer – dog waste compost should never be used on crops grown for human consumption and only a 25 percent compost blend should be used in a potting mix or flower beds.
For more information, please contact Windham’s Environmental & Sustainability Coordinator, Gretchen Anderson (gaanderson@windhammaine.us). <
Sources:
U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Pet Waste Disposal Systems Help Protect Water Quality”. (2017). https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2011/03/08/pet-waste-disposal-systems-help-protect-water-quality
Caperton, Katie; Clark, John; Kelly, Ridge. “Dog Waste Pilot Study”. (2021). https://yarmouth.me.us/vertical/sites/%7B27541806-6670-456D-9204-5443DC558F94%7D/uploads/PetWasteFinalReport2021.pdf
Tracking the Poo-llution. Maine Stormwater Conference. (2022). https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e4af21b92caed7f481a25b7/t/6372f6ca2814ad5c4233c883/1668478667376/Clift+Tracking+the+Poo-llution.pdf
Chewy Editorial. “Why Dog Poop Disposal is Important”. (2021). https://be.chewy.com/dog-poop-disposal-tips-for-properly-cleaning-up-after-your-dog/?gbraid=123&gclid=Cj0KCQiApKagBhC1ARIsAFc7Mc52anVqFIhQAglRlPm2c1DUfatWJe02zSJw9KVvOCyE8TnLBws7bNAaAj_2EALw_wcB
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