As we see more addresses owning dogs, and I’m sure that pooch “rest rooms” aren’t in the works any time soon, you may be getting frustrated with dog owners not cleaning up the waste their dogs leave behind.
Are you concerned that your condominium property will lose its value with uncollected dog “bombs” and/or garbage bins filled with dog waste? You should be! As the volume of this waste and its hazards are serious! Some of the solutions are high tech while others encourage good responsible ownership.
How much waste is out there?
There are 5 Million dogs in Canada and each dog on average produces 0.75 lbs/day, so that’s a whopping 1.38 Billion pounds of dog poop waste per year! It is said that up to 40% of this waste goes unscooped! And according to CNN, an average dog has twice the carbon footprint as driving an SUV 10,000 miles or 16,093 kilometers.
The Ontario Environmental Protection Act estimates that 2 days’ worth of dog waste from about 100 dogs would contribute enough pollution to close a beach, and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it. Dog waste is four times more toxic than human waste and contains many microbes like E. coli and parasitic worms. High contents of nitrogen from dog waste can lead to an overgrowth of algae in bodies of water. The alga leeches oxygen from the water and reduces its availability for fish and other aquatic life. One gram of dog waste (the weight of a business card) contains 23 Million fecal coliform bacteria (van der Wel, 1995), almost twice as much as human waste. This means that each dog which excretes 0.75 pounds (340 grams) of waste per day will produce 7.82 billion fecal coliform bacteria per day!
Is pet waste dangerous?
Yes! Pet wastes can transmit bacteria and viruses including tapeworm, roundworm, E. Coli, Parvo and more. Humans who come into contact with dog waste could contract campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis and toxocarisis, which may cause abdominal cramps, fever, coughing or wheezing, hives and possibly permanent damage.
Who can transfer pet waste off site?
Recently, I had a conversation with Darren Strachan of Acorn Waste Service of Cambridge, ON who informed me that the Ontario Ministry of the Environment requires people or companies who take part in Waste Transportation (garbage, dog waste) to be filed with the Registry, vehicles used for transporting the waste be clearly marked with the registration number appearing, every waste transportation vehicle used for transporting have a minimum $2,000,000 liability coverage and that every waste vehicle used for transporting waste have a copy of the confirmation of registration and a copy of the certificate of insurance. For more detail, visit: www.e-laws.gov.on.ca see Ontario Regulation 351/12. As a result, your typical handy man or landscape contractor does not have these certifications and should not be expected to remove this waste.
What can be done = Pet Waste Management
Some condo complexes are either turning to extreme measures to combat an overflowing tide of dog waste or resorting to a more conventional method. It is an investment to have your property clean! Listed below are two methods:
1. Matching the Mess – New companies are forming that specialize in “DNA dog waste Management”. Every pile of unscooped dog waste has a unique DNA “poo print” that can be used to identify the specific pet. If a waste pile is found on the grounds, a sample can be matched to the correct dog and your existing pet policy can be enforced. Here is how it works:
- Sign up with Company
- Collect a DNA sample – someone swabs the interior of dogs’ mouths, and the saliva samples are sent to a laboratory.
- Collect a sample from unscooped dog waste using a safe collection device
- Mail the waste sample to a lab
- Receive a result showing a genetic match identifying the dog who left the waste
This method has shown immediate results…with reduced dog waste of 75%!
- Waste Bin with Bag Dispenser – A more conventional and straight forward method in dealing with Pet Waste is to form a partnership at your community between a Licensed Waste Service who specializes in picking up dog waste and other garbage, a supplier of Waste Bin with Dispenser and a professional contractor. The specialized Dog Waste bin has a dispenser containing biodegradable bags for users. There are many dispensers on the market, however, the issue arises, “Who will pick up the garbage bin when it’s full?”
Here is how it works:
- A condominium community would calculate the number of dogs on the property.
- Hire a contractor to install one or more posts in concrete
- Attach the Waste Bin with Dispenser – strategically spaced to encourage dog owners to use.
- Dog owners take a bag from the dispenser and deposit the dog waste into the Waste bin (see picture)
- Sign up with a Licensed Waste Service Provider and decide on how often the bins should be emptied
As a growing number of Ontarians move into condos with their pets, condominium boards, property managers, landscape contractors increasingly have to consider both two and four legged inhabitants. We all have to consider, “how are we going to keep our community clean, and attractive?”
