Stormwater Talk: Dangers of Dog Waste
By GuestBy Kristine Meaney, Stormwater Manager, Canton DPW
Dog waste that is left on the ground is a public health issue that you can help prevent.
Some dog owners who don’t pick up after their pet may think dog waste just quickly degrades on its own and isn’t a big deal, or that it’s fertilizer. However, these are both misconceptions. In ideal conditions, dog waste left on the ground typically takes nine weeks to break down, and because dogs eat protein-rich diets, their feces contain harmful bacteria and parasites (not fertilizer).
When it rains, the bacteria and parasites found in pet waste that has been left on the ground is washed to the street and into our town’s storm drainage system. Most of the time, when water enters the town’s storm drainage system (typically through a street catch basin grate), it is conveyed directly — and untreated — into a local waterway such as a brook, pond, river or wetland. Bacteria and parasites from pet waste can make our waterways unsafe for recreation and cause disturbances to the ecosystem.
The Canton Department of Public Works recommends:
* When walking your dog, always bring multiple bags to pick up waste.
* Dispose of bagged pet waste in a trash can. Never place in a compost pile.
* Clean up after your pet in your own yard, especially before it rains. If your yard is next to a local waterway, the bacteria and parasites can wash directly into the waterway.
* Never throw the bags into the town’s catch basins.
So please, scoop the poop … in your own yard, in the woods, in the snow, and even if you have a small dog. Because picking up after your dog helps to protect our local waterways from stormwater pollution. Let’s all work together to keep our community and waterways clean!
To learn more about the town of Canton’s stormwater management initiatives and for educational resources for both adults and children, explore the links at www.town.canton.ma.us/494/Stormwater-Division.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=134362
Posted by Guest
on Jun 25 2026. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion.
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