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Dog poop - smelly, unsightly and damaging
Imagine how many tonnes of dog poo winds up being improperly disposed of each year. It certainly would be millions.
Until recently, dog poop wasn't considered a huge biological hazard, except for in rare cases causing a disease called Toxicarias.
Scientists are now reconsidering that notion after having made disturbing discoveries such as bacteria levels being so high at some beaches that people have to stay out of the water. One of the culprits that has been found to significantly raise the bacteria levels is dog poop.
It's not just from the nuggets on the beaches, but runoff from stormwater drains after that water has come into contact with the poop. Some of the bacteria harbored in dog poo includes E. coli, fecal coliform bacteria, salmonella and giardia.
Other than that, dog poo is just plain gross and pollutes our parks and sidewalks.
Some people put dog poop into their worm farms, which works fine, although it's not recommended that you then use the worm castings from the farm in your vegetable garden. General composting is also an option, but again, the compost shouldn't be applied to your veggie patch.
The doggy loo
The other alternative aside from burying it in your garden or dumping dog poop into your bin is to consider installing a dog toilet, aka a doggy loo. These are special buckets with holes in the bottom you place into the ground on a bed of stones and then add an enzyme to which will break down the poop. When the bucket is full, you simply pour water into it and the broken down materials will flush away. There's no risk to your plants, you can have the bucket hidden away in your garden.
You can buy a doggy loo already made up or create one yourself for just a few dollars using these very simple instructions. If you can't find the septic treatment starter they recommend on the page, even active enzyme drain cleaner will do - it just consists of the "good" bacteria needed and is available at just about any hardware store. If you get the pellets, I'd recommend about a teaspoon dissolved in a cup of water thrown in every month or so to keep the bacteria colony fresh.
When walking your dog..
Most of us have seen it happen, somebody walking their dog and Fido decides to take a dump - and the owner doesn't clean up afterwards. More responsible folk carry plastic bags with them, which is great - but unfortunately standard plastic bags aren't all that earth friendly and take years to break down.
There are now biodegradable/degradable bags on the market designed just for this purpose. Animal Management Services produces two types of 100% degradable dog waste bags that break down when subjected to light, heat and or moisture. These are somewhat different to biodegradable bags that rely on living micro-organisms to break down.
According to Evan from AMS who was kind enough to provide me with some added info, their GREEN bag is starch based and will break down in landfill in approx 90 days. Their BLACK bag (pictured above) is produced with EPI additive. When exposed to sunlight or heat the additive triggers a two step degradation process, in which the plastic breaks down through oxidation into small fragments, which then biodegrade into the natural elements of carbon dioxide, water, biomass and minerals. The degrading process for the black bag is approximately one year.
I forgot to ask Evan, but I'm assuming that the black bag, like most other many other plastics, is petrochemical based - so their green bag would be the one considered by many as being the more environmentally friendly option. It's a little difficult to accurately say which is more "green" as even starch based plastics require petrochemicals along the way - plus herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals in the manufacturing process. It's a complex area and one I'm still learning more about; but either option is still far better than a standard plastic bag.
While Animal Management Services supplies only to the Australian market, there are similar products available in just about every country now. If you're having problems locating these doggy-doo bags, also check out your local supermarket as a range of degradable/biodegradable plastic bags are now quite common in larger stores; but are just being sold for general use rather than dog waste specific.
Another interesting product is SkooperBox:
Made from 100% recycled paper, the box is flat to begin with and using the special leash clip, very convenient. When your dog does its bit whilst out on the walk, pop open the box, scoop up the poop, close the box and hang back on the leash clip ready for disposal. You can learn more about SkooperBox here (USA) and here (Australia)
Do you have other earth friendly ideas for dealing with dog poop? Please add your tips below; plus resources for biodegradable/degradable dog waste bags - I get a lot of questions from readers in various parts of the world looking for places to buy these!
Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
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Comments
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Comment #1
(Posted by Gayle Fleming)
Re: Dog Poop. I am so conflicted on this. When I walk my dog in my neighborhood and he poops on the common area grass or in someone's yard, I pick it up in a plastic bag which is what most people do. However, the number of plastic bags in landfills is also a hazard. My dog is small-only 20 lbs. In back of my condo there is an area of grass that is not used or walked on by anyone. So I don't always pick up the poop in order to save plastic bags. I have considered using paper towels since it's not as much as big dogs. Any thoughts?
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Comment #2
(Posted by Michael (Green Living Tips))
Gayle, perhaps something like oxo-biodegradable bags might be suitable? EcoSafe Plastics offers a dog poop bag solution.
http://usa.ecosafeplastics.com/qs/product/46/2772/145381/0/0
.. they aren't cheap; so it may be worthwhile hunting around. They are still petroleum based, but break down much faster into non-toxic elements according to the company. The other option would be to search for hydro-biodegradable bags - these are usually made from plant starch.
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Comment #3
(Posted by Joanne)
I also had a problem abut cleaning up after my dog for a few years. I used plastic bags before or the dog waste bags I bought at Petsmart. It was only year ago I saw eco friendly dog poop bags being produced by two companies. One is called Bio Dog Waste Bags, it is biodegrable and the bag material is made from corn. Since it is difficult to find. I had to go to a Organic Supermarket jsut to buy it.
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Comment #4
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Joanne, thanks for the recommendation - I'm guessing this is the product you're referring to: http://www.biogroupusa.com/Consumer.htm (slight variation on name)
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Comment #5
(Posted by Ericka Billue)
I try to use paper bags whenever possible. I regularly purchase brown paper lunch bags in large quantites. It makes them more cost effective. Also, always request paper bags any where that I have the option. REstaurants have nifty little bags and the local health food or grocery store, especially.
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Comment #6
(Posted by Imelda O. Suzara)
Mini Dustpan with Broom
I would buy one from a dollar store and bring it with me while walking a dog and if it poops on a sidewalk, I would just scoop it up with the mini broom and dustpan and find a big tree with soil, or a flower bed, and scoop it out to the soil where the poop can be fertilizer. The municipal bylaws says no dog poop on sidewalks, but I'm sure it's okay to put it to the soil, as long as it's not in a vegetable patch where its bacteria may infect edible crops.
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Comment #7
(Posted by Gayle Fleming)
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will definitely check out the bio waste bags. One thing I've started to do is train my dog to poop in one area away from walkways or places where people could step in it. Then I clean it up about every three days. So it's a few less bags. This works in the morning and not as well in the afternoon when we go for a long walk. I appreciate the thoughtful answers
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Comment #8
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Thanks for your contributions Imelda and Ericka!
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Comment #9
(Posted by Lynn Marquardt)
After reading your article, I Googled "dog toilet, aka a doggy loo".
There are commercial ones, but here's a site that shows how to make a dog septic system in your back yard.
http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/PhotoAlbum22.html
It's going on my to-do list.
Thanks for your article.
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Comment #10
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
That's a great guide Lynn - thanks!
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Comment #11
(Posted by Cam)
Question...actually, this question relates to a lot of topics on this site. I'm more than willing to pay more for eco-friendly products, but often the only way for me to buy these products is online, so the shipment of my order, with its packaging and fuel, isn't terribly ecofriendly. Which is better: buying the ecofriendly products or walking to my grocery store and buying what I can find there?
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Comment #12
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
That's a really good question Cam - totally see your point. It's hard to make an apples to apples comparison as it really depends upon a product - but as for the miles the product travels; the real world store product likely needs to travel as well - then you need to travel to get to it. The packaging is a good point, but hopefully most eco-savvy online stores bear that in mind in the types of packaging they use.
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Comment #13
(Posted by Michael Cozens)
I've heard that San Francisco has begun a program where special dog-poop collection bins are placed in public areas, along with biodegradable-bag dispensers. The collected poo will then be used as a fuel for power generation.
As for the concern with using compost on vegetable gardens, I'm fairly certain that the danger is not bacteria "infecting" plants (the species barrier and the plant's own immune system would prevent this), but with bacteria being deposited on the surface of leaves and then consumed. I would think that the standard good washing for produce before consumption would take care of that.
If anyone knows differently, please, do tell.
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Comment #14
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Hi Michael - good point. Dog poop can be applied to fruit trees etc, but it's just not recommended to allow contact with root and leaf vegetables. The same sort of guidelines apply for a black water recycling system (which we have). I wouldn't be comfortable with just washing the vegetables; at the very least I think they should be washed and cooked thoroughly.
It's great to see places like San Francisco making use of this waste. I was pleasantly surprised a couple of weeks ago to see a small outback town providing poop bags in their park, along with a bin for disposal.
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Comment #15
(Posted by Peter)
I like most people love our pets but hates to pick up the after them.I find it humiliating to walk around carrying a plastic bag with dog poop in it. Recently I purchase a swoop. This is a new product from Austrailia that bags dog poop at the touch of a button. The swoop has iconic claws that mimic the human hand and span and conceals the dog poop inside discreeetly. You can get more info. at www.thepetloo.us
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Comment #16
(Posted by kimbo)
thankyou for inspiring me to now put pen to paper and put forward a campaign, perhaps to 10downing street, regarding the implementation of dog poo bins, to be embedded in all council maintained public green spaces, perhaps next to ordinary public bins, to encourage people to use them...for it is truly the only footprint solution !
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Comment #17
(Posted by Suzanne )
Doggy poo. We have doggy poo collection containers in the parks specifially where dogs are allowed, to play and socialize.(off leash, too)
I have seen lots about dog poo disposal, how about cat? any ideas?
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Comment #18
(Posted by L. C. )
After reading the article on dealing with dog poop, I thought about it for a while and wondered how to best lessen my impact on the environment without all of those plastic sandwhich baggies or large plastic bags.
We have two small "poop-machines". When I let them outside each day, they use the same area. I've decided the best place for the waste is in the toilet. I had an old small plastic storage bin lying around, so I decided to collect some of the dried poop and dump it down the toilet. It worked like a charm. The doggie area is a little ways away from the house and we have a big yard, so I can usually let it collect for a bit before disposing of it. The tip to remember with this to only flush a little at a time or your toilet will back up. You can also go outside with your dog and scoop it up an dump it in the toilet as soon as they go if you need to immediately clean up after them.
I used to collect the poop in a garbage bag and then throw it out in the trash but I like disposing of it down the toilet better. The septic might have to be emptied a little bit sooner now, but I am satisfied because I am no longer adding extra waste to the environment. I am just adding it to where the human waste goes.
I purchased a bunch of small paper lunch bags to use when we go on a walk in case one of little ones has to go. I can collect it in the paper bag and throw it a trash recepticle, feeling good knowing that the paper bag is biodegradeable.
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Comment #19
(Posted by Brian)
It is amazing how many pet owners don't pick up after their dog. This is a huge national problem that many people are not aware of. We sell more "no dog pooping signs" than actual dog signs. Pet owners should always remember, "If your dog poops, please scoop".
http://www.signswithanattitude.com
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Comment #20
(Posted by Joanne Hallis)
My dogs are trained to go potty in only one area of my yard. I am however not able to grow grass in that area. And the lilac bushes that are on one side of the spot are looking rather peekeed. Any ideas why?
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Comment #21
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Hi Joanne, as urine is high in salts, it's likely due to too much salt and perhaps an overload of nutrients and other chemicals in the soil.
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Comment #22
(Posted by Elsa)
I also wondered about the proper way to dispose of cat poo, since they say you can't throw or flush it because that can increase the risk of Toxoplasmosis (http://www.naturesearth.com/news/) getting into ground and waste waters, and composting isn't ideal due to that and other bacteria. Is it possible to put it in the homemade septic system also? I have 1 small dog (15 lbs), 1 large dog (87 lbs) and 4 cats, so I'm always interested in finding a more eco-friendly way of caring for them and cleaning up after them, as they make a lot of messes :) I've already switched to feline pine litter because it's all natural and compostable, but this septic system sounds like it might be the best way to dispose of the actual "clumps" shall we say. Is that true?
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Comment #23
(Posted by stephanie)
About the pooping problem-There are worm compost bins available for dog poop and cat poop-as long as the cat litter is made from wheat, newspaper, or other materials that breaks down. You can purchase manure worms that eats the poop and then make rich castings for you garden! (It's called vermicomposting-check it out online!) About the plastic bag from groceries situation, I always use the bags for my cat litter. I think it's more environmentally friendly to reuse those bags instead of throwing them away! I assume that those eco bags are recycled materials? What about the energy used to recycle them? Sometimes, I think we get very single track minded to "go green" but to think about the lesser two evil!
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Comment #24
(Posted by Laura)
I have been considering the Doggy Loo for some time now and am convinced that is the way to go. I have two small dogs and a small yard, so picking the poop up every time they go is essential for a usable lawn. But I also walk my dogs regularly and use the biodegradable bags for pick up. SO here's my question-- can the biodegradable bags go INTO the loo when I get back from my walks? Or will it need to be de-bagged: poo in the loo and bag to the trash? Sounds silly, but a bag that would break down in the loo enzymes would be all around perfect for me. Any thoughts?
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Comment #25
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Elsa, it should be fine to put in a septic system - the pathogens should be eliminated.
Stephanie, that's very true about the vermicomposting - worm farms are great:
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/41/1/Worm-farms-and-vermicomposting.html
... one thing tho', castings or leachate from a worm farm that's had cat or dog poop in it shouldn't be used on veggie gardens, just to be safe.
Laura, that's a good question - I *think* the bags take longer to break down, so you may find it filling up faster; and with the poop being in the bag, it's hard for the enzymes to go to work. For that reason, I'd recommend against it.
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Comment #26
(Posted by kimber)
I'm gonna 'fess up here. I've trained my dog to go in the tall (2ft tall) grass in a large forested old city park across the street from me. Nothing degrades in a land fill. They have found lettuce still identifiable in fifty year old land fill. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. The tall grass and forest is a good filter before it gets to the water. I pick up if she goes on the pathway or mowed grass so people don't step in it. If they are walking in the tall grass they need to avoid the deer poop anyway. In fact, I live on a small city lot configured in such a way, that if my dog poops in the back yard rain water is sure to wash it directly into a nearby storm drain. (ah justification is ignorant bliss) Large areas of tall grass is the best answer I say. I know it's hard when you are down town. But if you are in an area where you can, why not?
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Comment #27
(Posted by tim campbell)
You have to check out the Doody Dangler. It attaches to your leash so you don't have to carry the bag. It works great! Who likes to carry that smelly bag. www.doodydangler.com
I love simple ideas that jus work.
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Comment #28
(Posted by Bethany)
I would REALLY like to make my own Doggy Loo after reading this article. We are military, and usually live on base and move every few years. Is it easy enough to fill it in and cover up after finished with it? What is the best way to do that (I know it'll probably be as easy as just filling it up with dirt, but I want to make sure for the health of the environment!) Thanks for all your great ideas!
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Comment #29
(Posted by Michael - Green Living Tips)
Tim, thanks for your tip. Bethany, just before moving, discontinue use of the doggy loo so what's in there breaks down and then just fill it back in with dirt.
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Comment #30
(Posted by TOM)
Why not flush it down the toilet with the bag. I use The Flushable Bag and it works great. www.theflushablebag.com
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Comment #31
(Posted by Sherry Massey)
I bought a Jaws pet poop scoop at Petsmart. You just use the handle to open the jaws and scoop up the poop and then flush it. I haven't used a bag in months. I reviewed it recently on my blog at http://simplestewardship.wordpress.com/product-reviews/. It's really convenient and works great.
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Comment #32
(Posted by Aurora)
Of course if you turn your dog or cat 'green' by feeding a biologically species appropriate diet aka raw meat diet - there is a whole LOT LESS, Low Odor poop to scoop in the first place! Since bio poop is a lot smaller, firmer and dryer its a whole lot easier to dispose of =)
There are some very good Yahoo support groups for raw feeding, RawPaws™ comes highly recommended.
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Comment #33
(Posted by michael)
I flush my dog's poops down the toilet with a flushable doggy waste bag.
The company is called Flush Doggy.
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Comment #34
(Posted by Jessica)
I don't know if this is a "green" way to go or not, but I clean up my yard about once a week (3 dogs), and throw it in the fire pit. When we have a fire, we can burn leaves and stuff around here, it just breaks down. Then I put the ashes in my compost bins.
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Comment #35
(Posted by Patricia)
I have trained my dogs to not go on the sidewalk and
go where people don't walk. It works great for me
and them. I don't have a problem now.
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Comment #36
(Posted by dog walker)
how about newspaper? it's cheap (i.e. you already have some on hand - either pick up a free paper, use your neighbor's recycled papers, or your own) and once you develop good technique VERY effective. pick the poop up somewhere in the middle of two sheets, then wrap it up tightly, using the remaining paper as a handle. Biodegradable, easy, cheap (free).
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Comment #37
(Posted by Michael)
thanks for your tip, Tim, Of course if you turn your dog or cat 'green' by feeding a biologically species appropriate diet aka raw meat diet.
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Comment #38
(Posted by Sheila)
Hi again, Michael!
I have two large dogs who make alot of waste... until recently, I just raked the stool up with yard waste and placed it in a field that is being filled to give it some chance of biodegrading.
However, I will not have to "doo" that any more. I saw an ingenious way to take care of dog poop forever and safely. Anyone who has a large plastic garbage can that has started falling apart at the bottom (from dragging, perhaps)can make it into a doggie refuse recycling container. First, you need to dig a hole that the can can be seated into about 3/4 of the way into the ground. Then you need to drill holes all the way around the can to provide drainage. Line the hole in the ground with landscape fabric to prevent the holes from becoming plugged with soil, place the can in it and then cover it with the lid. When your dog poops, you can place it in the can. To assist with the biodegradation and to keep it from stinking, you can pour a small amount of enzymes on it- the same kind used in human waste processing. When the poop degrades, the nutrients leech into the ground harmlessly and are filtered by Mother Earth herself. I would suggest, however, placing this in a corner of the yard that is away from your veggie garden. Hopefully this helps some of you. I'm planning on making mine shortly. I'll let you know how it works.
Best of Regards,
Sheila :)
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Comment #39
(Posted by Samantha)
My boyfriend and I pick up our doggy waste with toilet paper and bring it directly to the toilet. I have not yet been caught by a neighbor using toilet paper, and am dreading the day I am...but to me it seems smarter than a bag.
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Comment #40
(Posted by annares)
It's nice to see so many people putting real thought into this issue. It's something I looked into a bit, for a workshop on reducing our carbon footprint that I participated in, and it is a complicated and not entirely encouraging topic. I do have a few thoughts that I want to share, though.
Check out WHERE your bio bags (and other green products) are manufactured, as well as how and with what. The main eco-friendly doggie-waste bags for sale around here - which a previous comment mentioned (http://www.biogroupusa.com/) - are manufactured in Norway. They are great, and not made with petroleum products like other "eco" bags mentioned here (eg http://usa.ecosafeplastics.com/ - phony eco-friendly plastic with a really bad written and edited website) but shipping them to the US really reduces their eco-friendly credentials.
Much of the harmful bacteria mentioned here - such as e. coli, etc. - is found in human waste (and human stomachs, and on most of the surfaces in your bathroom, etc.) and is only a threat when it gets into food too directly. Composting pet waste - either in your regular compost or in worm bins - might not meet stringent public health requirements, but it will generally be safe when done intelligently. And given how unsafe the food industry seems to be these days...
The suggestion about using newspaper (or other waste paper) is really the way to go. Pick up the poop with paper, bring it home and compost it - perhaps in a separate compost system for waste requiring more handling. The newspaper would be good too, in providing the roughage/dry matter the compost system/worm bin would need to help with handling the wet poop.
Don't leave it in parks or outside in urban areas. There are just too many dogs and cats in most urban and suburban areas - the levels of nitrogen, bacteria, etc., that the pet waste produces is not sustainable when left out in that way. If you live in a rural area, fine, but otherwise, it needs to be disposed of properly.
Flushing pet waste down the toilet is okay - but most "flushable" cat litter can actually cause problems with your plumbing or the waste treatment system. You can scoop out the poop, flush that, and compost the rest. Bringing your dog poop home from the park to flush sounds a bit complicated/messy, but would be a fine solution.
At the end of the day, the main reason people have gotten into the habit of using plastic bags is that... well, it's shit. It's nasty and smelly - picking it up with a dust pan (good suggestion) or paper seems unpleasant. But if we are going to have pets, and going to save the planet, that is a bit of squeamishness we are going to have to get past.
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Comment #41
(Posted by Sarah)
The doggie composter has caught my attention. I shamelessly must admit that I have been putting the poop in a garbage bag and into the regular garbage bin for pick up. I have been trying to become more green with everything I can, and this definitley seems like a much better idea, and now I don't have to feel guilty about it. I do live in Canada where we get a "crap" load of snow (no pun intended) and will just need to make sure that the compost is shovelled off enough in the winter months so it's accessible. Would I need to do anyting differently in the winter with this? Oh by the way I am referring to the homemade septic tank Lynn noted above from the web site http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/PhotoAlbum22.html - any thoughts??
Thanks for all the tips, I read each one to see the best options for us as well as the environment.
Thanks again :)
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Comment #42
(Posted by Sarah)
2 questions/concerns:
- In regards to the "doggy loo", can't the turd leachate contaminate groundwater?
- I thought that flushing cat poo down the toilet can be extremely harmful to sea otters, as not all of the protozoa that causes toxoplasmosis are killed by the typical chlorine waste water treatment <http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=70&articleID=1000>
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Comment #43
(Posted by michael)
I use flushable dog poop bags.. just google it, you will find some..
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Comment #44
(Posted by janet)
hi, i have a real problem. i did some research and dug a hole and took a 30 gal plastic trash can and cut out the bottom, drilled holes like they said all over the sides, put rocks for drainage, and put the poop in there, a year later, it hasnt decomposed one bit, and i put septic stuff and rid ex, and nothing. i dont know what to do, other than call a septic company and have them pump out. has this happened to anyone else, and what else can i do? its covered, of course, we have clay in our yard, but didnt seem to be any where we dug. i board dogs, so have lots of poop, i have to go back to the old way putting it in the trash, or some other method until i get this under control, thanks for any help, j, if someone can email me that would be great. all it is is liquidy mush, kinda gross, i keep going out there and flushing it, but no luck, there.
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Comment #45
(Posted by Paul)
I am a professor and consult and conduct research on waste treatment sometimes. If your dog septic system is holding water, the rate at which the water leaves is lower than the rate at which it is added. Could be that the soil in the area is not porous enough and it can't leach out quickly enough. Could be that there is not enough area for the leachate to get out of the septic system fast enough (not enough holes in bucket). You could have your soil tested to see if the infiltration rate is high enough, but you already know it is not so the question is how to fix it. If the soil permeability will allow it, you could install a larger system to deal with the waste, more like a full home septic system. If the load is not excessive, it is possible your home system could deal with it but be careful not to overload it; I would not recommend this for more than a couple of animals. If you are connected to an urban waste treatment system, the city/county waste treatment utility can give you good advice in this area. If not, then the health department that oversees septic systems can help.
On another issue, I don't think flushing the actual feces from a couple of dogs or cats down the house toilet will hurt anything. However, do not flush anything solid, regardless of the proported biodegradability, down a toilet. It has to be filtered out at the treatment plant and is a real hassle to deal with, driving up costs. If it is litter, it is probably settling out in the sewage system somewhere. The rule of thumb is not to flush anything that hasn't been through you (or your pet) first. With the actual litter for cats, don't flush it. Bag it and put it in the garbage. You can use a paper bag if it makes you feel better, but generally speaking, nothing that goes in a landfill is going to degrade anytime soon, plastic or paper. However, unless you have a lot of area of unused land that does not have runoff to a water source, landfilling solid waste is the safest way to deal with a large amount of it. Again, for a couple of dogs or cats, flushing the waste itself down the toilet is not likely to hurt anything. Municipal waste treatment is more than capable of dealing with this. However, large kennels that generate a lot of waste need professional advice. And don't flush bags, litter, or any other solid waste other than the feces itself down the toilet. Waste treatment plants have screens to remove solids, but they are just going to take it out and landfill it anyway and it will end up costing the public more if they have to expand to deal with increased load. Same goes for flushable wipes or tampons; they do not degrade in the water treatment system and have to be screened out and landfilled. Just cut out the middle man and put these items straight in the garbage. A tour of a waste water treatment plant will be a real eye-opener.
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Comment #46
(Posted by vivian)
I flush my dog's poops down the toilet with a flushable doggy waste bag. Most eco-friendly way to get ride of poops.
The company is called Flush Doggy.
There are flushable dog poop bags. The best answer probably because dog poop can get treated just as your poop is.
FlushDoggy, is a fully biodegradable, flushable(water soluble) dog waste bag that is very eco-friendly. Dog doodies are best to be flushed down the toilet and degrade naturally , just as our own doodies. Stop destroying our earth and start educating the public, one poop at a time. Be a responsible owner and go green for our pets.
http://flushdoggy.com and get a FREE SAMPLE TO TRY !
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Comment #47
(Posted by Erin)
As a new dog owner, I find myself without a baggie more often than not; out of necessity I started scouting for garbage on dog walks. I've never had trouble finding something suitable for the job, except one time in a park... I had to adhere his business to a small twig, which was pretty embarrassing to walk to the garbage with, but we managed.
It always feels better to pick up a bit of litter at the same time as being responsible for my dog's waste. Some areas have more litter than others, might not work in scenic suburbs.
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Comment #48
(Posted by Austin Taylor)
On the doggy loo, wouldn't that poop dissolve into the watershed, where it would get passed around to people with wells, so they get sick? Or do the good bacteria take out all of bad bacteria?
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Comment #49
(Posted by Empress)
If you properly hot compost the dog waste, (or any waste) the harmful microorganisms will be destroyed and it is then as safe as any other compost. Worm composting is achieved at a lower temperature and so is not recommended to go on food plants.
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Comment #50
(Posted by Possible Gardner)
I have read and understood the issue with fresh dog poop in a food garden, but I want to know if you can plant in an area that USED to house a dog a year ago. The dog run where our dog used to be (and poop) is the perfect spot for a veggie garden and it has spent an entire winter and summer "drying". Is it now ok to prepare the area (kill off the grass, till it up and prep it) during this winter and go ahead and plant this coming spring?
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Comment #51
(Posted by Anna)
Just wondering about the doggie septic system...Is septonic environmentally friendly? I can't find ingredients on their site.
Can you keep the lid on the garbage can, or is it open all the time?
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