Dear Jenni,
You’re right, equality in poop info for all! My apologies to our pet populations. For those of us who are parents or guardians of furry friends, I do have the straight poop on, well, poop. But before we begin, be forewarned that this column is written entirely on a gross subject. Reader discretion is advised for the excrement-phobic.
Let’s start with Fido. Several folks have written me asking if it would be better to leave dog waste on the ground where it will eventually decompose, rather than putting it in the garbage. The short answer is no, scoop the poop, both in the yard and on the trail.
Scooping is the law on public spaces, not only for sanitary and aesthetic reasons, but for very strong environmental reasons as well. Dog waste poses a threat to local waterways, causing bacteria levels that upset algae growth, and potentially harming fish and other animals dependent upon the water (like, say, humans).
Dog waste left on the ground also introduces high levels of nitrogen into the soils which impede native plant growth and cause harmful weeds to flourish.
There are issues with Felix’s feces left on the ground, too. Pathogens contained in cat waste can pose a serious health threat to humans and can also make their way into our waterways where they can potentially cause a pollution problem.
For more information on the pathogens contained in pet waste, visit www.cdc.gov/healthypets.
So we need to pick it up. But then what? Let’s hear from a few local experts.
Readers have asked about spreading used cat litter made from biodegradable materials like corn, pine, or newspaper around their property as mulch. According to the Boulder County Health Department, the problem with simply spreading the cat litter is that pathogens contained in both the feces and the urine will likely just sit and not be eaten by microorganisms, so they will continue to pose a health hazard.
Composting pet waste in the backyard may seem like a good idea but according to compost experts at the CSU Cooperative Extension, the pathogens and parasites within the waste are not properly treated or removed under most compost conditions. They strongly advise that pet waste should never be placed in your home compost bin or directly on your landscape.
Staff members at the wastewater treatment facility ask that you do not flush kitty litter—even those claiming to be biodegradable or flushable—since it may clog or damage your pipes as well as the pipes and equipment at the wastewater treatment plant. You could, however, flush just the fecal matter from a cat or a dog.
To avoid kitty litters all together, you might consider a toilet training kit for your cat, available at most pet stores (just remove all cat reading material from the bathroom so they don’t hang out there too long). There are many books and websites on do-it-yourself kits. A reader sent me a link to one on a Charles Mingus site (jazz great and apparently cat trainer extraordinaire) at http://www.mingusmingusmingus.com/Mingus/cat_training.html.
Since it’s tough to teach old dogs new tricks, especially how to use the potty, I don’t have the same suggestion for dogs. The advice from the experts is, and I wince when I say this, flush it down or throw it out. It is better to bend, scoop, and toss the poop in a sealed plastic bag than it is to let it lie. Doing so will not only protect us and our pet pals, it will also protect our local ecosystems.
