Did you know that there are more dogs in Denver than kids? There are approximately 161,000 dogs in Denver and more than 1.4 million statewide! With each dog producing around 12 ounces of waste a day, that’s 274 pounds of waste per dog a year in Dever. We all love our furry friends but one of the biggest pollutants in our parks and neighborhoods is dog waste. Usually, people are responsible and pick up after their dogs, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. It might not seem like a river pollutant, but animal waste can add up to big problems for water quality, and even human health. Animal waste contains two main types of pollutants that harm local waters: nutrients and pathogens. When this waste ends up in water bodies, it decomposes, releasing nutrients that cause excessive growth of algae and weeds. This excessive growth causes low oxygen levels in the water that can kill fish and other aquatic life. It also makes the water murky, green, smelly, and even unusable for swimming, boating, or fishing. The pathogens, disease causing bacteria and viruses, can also make local waters unswimmable and unfishable, and have caused severe illness in humans. Pathogens can be spread to other pets and humans including: salmonella, giardia, parvovirus, and others. Denver Park and Recreation have a series of Park Rules and Regulations. The first two rules listed are:
- Dogs and pets must be on a leash and under physical control at all times.
- Pet waste must be picked up and disposed of properly.
Denver Park and Recreation recognizes the importance of disposing of pet waste properly. You can even order FREE pet waste bags from their website.
So how can WE help?? We can create a craft for the whole family to enjoy, homemade animal waste bag containers! The idea is that if we leave bags for other people, it will give them the resources they need to clean up after their pet. How do we create these containers? It’s easy!
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Materials Needed:
Step 1: Cut a hole into one side of the container. Make sure to cut the hole in the bottle small enough that rain will not soak the bags, wind will not blow the bags out and it is difficult for someone to deposit a full bag |
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Step 2: Make four zip tie or string holes on the opposite side of the bottle from the cut-out, two at the top corners and two at the bottom corners
Step 3: Insert zip tie or string into one hole. Repeat with the second zip tie/string holder.
Step 1
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Step 3
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Step 4
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Step 4: Place a note about how the community poop bag share station works on the poop bag dispenser and cover with clear packing tape
Step 5: Fasten your poop bag dispenser to an *approved place* in your neighborhood or park!
Step 5: Fasten your poop bag dispenser to an *approved place* in your neighborhood or park!
Sources:
- Donny Roush, City & County of Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure
- https://cfpub.epa.gov/npstbx/files/Pet%20Care%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
- https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/wastewater-management/keep-it-clean.html
- https://denverite.com/2019/12/16/denver-has-more-dogs-than-children-and-everything-else-we-learned-about-denvers-dog-parks/
- https://www.cascadiannomads.com/pet-adventure-blog/make-a-community-poop-bag-share-station-help-neighbors-remember-to-scoopthatpoop
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/jganderson/3417156790
