Why Picking Up Dog Poop During Walks and in the Yard is Essential

Picking up dog poop during walks and in the yard is essential for anyone living in Yorktown, Poquoson, Newport News, or Hampton, VA. Failing to do so doesn’t just impact human health and neighborhood cleanliness; it puts local wildlife at risk and degrades the health of vital waterways throughout the Peninsula region. Let’s discuss the dirty truths about leaving poop on the ground or failing to properly dispose of poop bags. Learn more about the impact of pet waste compared to other trash in this article by Enviro Pet Waste Network.

For Pets and Wildlife

When dog waste is left behind, it contains harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites that do not break down quickly, especially in areas where dogs share space with regional wildlife. Hampton Roads parks and neighborhoods are home to many wild creatures, including white-tailed deer, foxes, raccoons, rabbits, muskrats, otters, and beavers. Smaller mammals such as mice, shrews, and voles inhabit woodlands and grassy areas, while birds like bald eagles, osprey, herons, and waterfowl flourish along rivers and marshes. These animals rely on clean habitats and healthy water sources free from pollution.

Dog feces can transmit diseases like Giardia, roundworms, and hookworms, all of which threaten our pets and local wildlife if introduced into their habitat. Uncollected waste can also attract scavengers or disrupt fragile food chains by introducing high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus into native soils, a process that can alter plant growth and harm the species that rely on those plants.

For Our Waterways

The York and James Rivers, along with countless creeks and marshes, define the Peninsula’s natural landscape. Pet waste left on the ground, either in or out of bags, is carried by rainwater into these waterways, polluting streams and rivers with bacteria and excess nutrients. This pollution can lead to the following environmental concerns:

• Harmful algae blooms that reduce oxygen levels and threaten fish and aquatic life.
• Elevated bacteria counts that result in beach closures and warning notices for swimmers.
• Contaminated water impacting not only wildlife but also boating, fishing, and recreation.

For Human Health and Community Standards

Beyond environmental concerns, leaving pet waste behind creates a hazard for children at play, families using parks, and everyone who enjoys being outdoors. Dog poop contains millions of bacteria in a single gram, and some of these pathogens, like E. coli and salmonella, can linger in the soil or water long after the waste appears to have vanished.

Communities in Hampton, Newport News, Yorktown, and Poquoson are increasingly encouraging responsible pet ownership and trail use by reminding everyone to carry bags and dispose of pet waste in trash cans. Doing so is a simple act with powerful results: cleaner parks, coexisting wildlife, vibrant waterways, and a healthier, more welcoming neighborhood for all.

Picking Up Dog Poop During Walks and in the Yard

Picking up dog poop during walks and in the yard is a key step in protecting our unique Peninsula ecosystem. Let’s work together, pet parents and wildlife lovers alike, to keep Yorktown, Poquoson, Newport News, and Hampton beautiful, safe, and full of life for generations to come!

GreenLine Pet Supply

When choosing a poop bag for your pet and home, it’s important to consider where that bag will actually end up. Unless your community offers a pet waste-specific composting program, which is rare in most areas and non-existent in our area, your bag will almost certainly be landfilled. That’s why landfill biodegradable bags offer a more effective solution for environmentally conscious pet parents.

At Hearts at Home, we use GreenLine Pet Supply’s poop bags. They contain an earth-friendly, proprietary additive that ensures the bag breaks down without oxygen, water, and sunlight, all of which are rare in a landfill. To learn more about GreenLine’s poop bags, click here.

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