Did you know one gram of dog waste contains millions of bacteria and can lead to beach closures? Pet waste presents a serious problem in our City and County. It’s one of the largest sources of water pollution. Keep your pets healthy by picking up pet waste in your backyard before each storm and whenever you’re out and about.

The truth about pet waste:

• Not all animal waste is created equal. Dog waste (unlike cow manure) is not fertilizer.
• Pet waste is one of the largest sources of water pollution.
• The US EPA classifies dog waste as a dangerous pollutant, in the same category as toxic chemicals and oil.
• Dog waste is a common carrier of nasty things like heart worms, whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, parvovirus, giardia, salmonella and E. coli. 
• Unattended pet waste washes into storm drains, polluting our creeks, rivers and the ocean with bacteria that are harmful to people, pets and marine life.
• Dog waste needs to be tossed into the trash, even when you pick it up with biodegradable bags. Never leave it on the ground, particularly where it can be washed away by rain or ocean tides.
• Picking up after your dog and tossing it in the trash protects our community’s health and our environment.

Thanks for all you do to keep our water and community clean!