Poo Report Suggests Dog Owners Need Educating on Animal Waste

There are 8 million dogs in the UK, but only five types of owner, and not all of them are happy to clean up after their mutts despite the £22 million spent by local authorities to encourage them to do so, according to researchers at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. In a recently published paper, Environmental and social impacts of domestic dog waste in the UK: investigating barriers to behavioural change in dog walkers, Christopher Lowe and colleagues discussed the environmental, health and safety issues. According to the paper, most dog walkers are happy and even proud to bag and bin their dog’s waste, while some might leave waste if they are off the beaten track or in more rural locations. However, the researchers found that a small proportion of dog walkers are totally disengaged from the idea that picking up their dog waste is the ‘right thing to do’. The report noted that dog mess is not only as unpleasant as any animal waste, it can also carry parasitic diseases that have health impacts on people and animals that come into contact with them. For instance, they might transmit toxocariasis, via the larvae (immature worms) of the dog roundworm (Toxocara canis), which can cause blindness, asthma and neurological problems in those affected. The authors also point out that the presence of dog faeces in country parks, walks and other recreational areas can deter visitors and so have a local economic impact in those areas. In conducting their research the team carried out a path audit in popular dog walking areas of Lancashire to determine the influence of path morphology, location and management (related to dog waste) on the frequency and location of bagged and non-bagged dog waste. They also conducted an online, nationwide survey of dog walkers to determine attitudes and behaviour regarding dog waste. As a result, the team suggested that there are five types of dog walker from the most to the least socially and environmentally responsible: Proud to pick up - happy to be seen carrying dog waste, will pick up in all locations and take it home if no bins are available It is the right thing to do - will pick up in public places but will seek to dispose of the waste as soon as it is practical; often embarrassed to be seen carrying bagged waste I have done my job - if there is no bin available will leave the bagged waste to be dealt with by others Only if I have to - will only pick up in the presence of other people - likely to discard when no one is looking Disengaged - will not pick up in any situation even if they are aware of the environmental consequences of their actions In a bid to tackle the problem signs, bins and the collection of mess are a significant cost to local authorities were reported to amount to over £22 million per year across England and Wales. The researchers found that in addition to tackling the worst offenders, persuading those who do bag the waste to put it in a suitable bin either on the street or at home is important as there is some evidence that bagged dog waste left in the environment might be a longer term problem. Image credit: Eric and Mary Ellen Read More ‘Just Eat It’ Documentary on Food Waste in North America A documentary feature film looking at the issue of food waste is to debut at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto on April 27th. Stop Dumping in the Woods! New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection is to use CCTV to catch scoundrels dumping in the woods in a year-long pilot program to crack down on illegal waste disposal. VIDEO: Mayor Outlines Hawaii’s Waste to Energy Requirements Following Recent RFP The Mayor of Hawaii’s Big Island, Billy Kenoi has outlined the options for managing the island’s waste following the imminent closure of the Hilo landfill site. 9.4 MW Biogas Generators for Huge Waste to Energy & Recycling Facility in Ohio 2G CENERGY is to supply generating equipment for a 9.4 MW biogas CHP plant being developed at Ohio’s Center for Resource Recovery and Recycling in Grove City.