We love our pets, but no one loves cleaning up after them. Picking up pet waste is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. Pet waste has the potential to degrade the environment from stormwater to the lakes and rivers it drains to if the waste is not properly disposed of. In fact, pet waste has been listed as a non-point source pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 1991! Pets can house several types of bacteria and parasites that are expelled with their waste, and pet waste has been shown to contribute an estimated 20-30% of the bacteria found in natural water samples. Picking up after your pet in public areas is very important, as waste left near storm drains or waterways is easily carried into our valuable creeks and rivers during the next storm event.
Use the materials below to learn more about how to responsibly clean up after your pet and keep our watershed and Lake Erie healthy!