Pet Care Tips
That Help Keep Our Water Clean
Why Should I Care About Something As Natural As Pet Wastes?
Pet Waste Is Natural - But Not In
The Amount and Place It Goes in a City
The number of pets in Seattle is much greater than the number of wild animals that once lived here. If we kept just a few pets their waste might not be much of a problem. But we keep a lot of dogs and cats - no one knows just how many, but probably several hundred thousand within the city limits. Their wastes do not degrade as naturally as they could when Seattle was all woods. There is just not enough space for nature to handle the waste from all our pets.
What You See Is What You Get
We have all probably had some unpleasant personal experience with pet waste. It is not something we like to see, especially in a park where we want to walk or play. And we do not like to step in it, of course. But what we see is only one part of the problem. Bacteria in this waste gets washed into the streets and down storm drains to creeks and beaches.
And What You Don't See Can Also Get You
Pet
wastes are also a health issue, and a water quality concern. Signs that warn
about eating shellfish can mean that the water has high levels of a group of
bacteria called "fecal coliform". Fecal coliform comes from the wastes of
mammals and birds. Its presence can indicate a health risk for humans. Large
amounts of animal wastes can also change the balance of life in the stream, just
like any other fertilizer.
Pet waste can be a -real health concern. The fish and shellfish that take in the bacteria do not seem to be affected, but the people who eat these fish and shellfish can be harmed. Small children can become sick from playing near animal waste.
People's Health Issue
You can prevent health risks by taking
proper care of your pet waste. Small quantities of pet waste can be buried in
your back yard, where they can decompose slowly. Larger amounts should be
scooped and flushed down the toilet.
The law requires you to scoop up after your pets - and with good reason.
Would You Like To Live In A City Of 50,000 People That Had No Sewer System?
That is how much raw sewage a group of scientists estimated is produced by the dog and cat population of Seattle. It goes into our water with no treatment - unless people take care of it first.
IF YOU WOULDN'T DO IT, YOUR PET
SHOULDN'T EITHER! 
To find out more about what you can do to protect Longfellow Creek, call Sheryl Shapiro, Watershed Educator, at (206) 615-1443.