With longer days and nice weather many of you are heading outside with your 4-legged friends to enjoy the great outdoors. Butte Silver Bow Animal Services encourages you to follow all the leash laws and to make sure you are also a good neighbor and citizen by picking up after your pet. Butte Silver Bow has a beautiful dog Park with off leash areas called Skyline Park and many trail systems in and around Butte. Dogs are required to be on a leash in Skyline unless they are in a designated off-leash area. All of them have several areas where you can get and dispose your doggy waste bags, but if you are walking your pet you should always be prepared and carry a bag with you. Here are a few reasons why it is important to pick up after your pet:
4 Reasons Why Dog Poop Cleanup is Important:
Reason #1: Dog Poop Is not a Fertilizer Like Cow Poop
We put cow manure on our crops to help them grow, so should not dog poop do the same for grass and flowers? Unfortunately, this is a common misconception about dog waste, and the reason lies in the animals’ diets: cows primarily eat grass and grain while dogs typically eat meat.
Dog waste also contains nitrogen, which explains why your grass can turn brown or yellow in spots. The best way to keep your lawn green is to promptly clean up after your dog, or at least on a weekly basis.
Reason #2: Dog Poop Can Affect Our Water
All animal waste affects our water, and dogs are no exception. However, with some mindfulness and diligence, we have the power to help lessen its impact!
In addition to nutrients, dog poop also contains pathogens, which are illness-causing bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. If they end up in our drinking, swimming, and fishing water, everyone is affected, including humans, pets, and wildlife.
Reason #3: Cleaning Up Dog Poop is the Law
It is the law to clean up after your dog-and simply part of being a good neighbor! Many cities have enacted what is nicknamed the “pooper scooper law” and will fine dog owners who do not pick up after their dog in a public place.
Reason #4: Cleaning Up Poop Makes Life Easier in the Long Run!
It can be a pain to pick up poop, but between its impact on nature and hefty fines, avoiding it can lead to even bigger problems. Cleaning up immediately after your dog makes life easier for you, your neighbors, and your dog. Backyard barbeques, running around barefoot in the park, outdoor picnics, and simply walking down the sidewalk are all easier and less messy when we pick up after our furry pals.
Please Call Animal Services if you have any questions at 497-6525