Dealing with Dog Waste
DEALING WITH DOG WASTE
Identification and Definition a problem
Context:
A 2009 research report by Zero2IPO claims that the number of pets in China has grown 500% from 1999 to 2007. There are now estimated 200 million-plus pets in China and this number is expected to grow to 500 million by 2015
China, the world's most populous nation, has about 150 million pet dogs, about one for every nine people. An average Chinese city has about 100,000 dogs and gains about 10,000 per year, while large cities can have twice as many. Beijing had more than 500,000 pet dogs in 2004. Registered dogs in Beijing increased 16% this year, reaching 530,000 dogs. But the actual number of dogs in Beijing is actually much higher.
The Social and Environmental Impacts of Uncollected Dog Waste
Dog waste in urban areas is a largely ignored issue that is nevertheless the source of serious social and environmental problems. Dog waste presents a problem at two stages of waste management: collection and disposal.
Picking up: the Collection of Dog Waste
Uncollected dog waste can negatively affect park aesthetics as well as public health and safety. It can also damage turf and other vegetation. In natural parks or along the edge of water bodies, accumulating dog waste can adversely impact sensitive habitat areas.
On a broader level, uncollected dog waste is an environmental issue. Nonhuman waste can be a significant source of bacterial contamination in urban watersheds. While livestock is the major source of this problem in rural areas, dogs (along with dense populations of wild birds such as seagulls or Canada geese) are typically the source of contamination in urban areas.
Pathogens found in animal waste that is “zoonotic”--capable of being transmitted to humans from animals--are the major cause of concern. If ingested, some of these pathogens (including Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Salmonella among others) may result in serious illness or even death. Roundworm and hookworm infections
Identification and Definition a problem
Context:
A 2009 research report by Zero2IPO claims that the number of pets in China has grown 500% from 1999 to 2007. There are now estimated 200 million-plus pets in China and this number is expected to grow to 500 million by 2015
China, the world's most populous nation, has about 150 million pet dogs, about one for every nine people. An average Chinese city has about 100,000 dogs and gains about 10,000 per year, while large cities can have twice as many. Beijing had more than 500,000 pet dogs in 2004. Registered dogs in Beijing increased 16% this year, reaching 530,000 dogs. But the actual number of dogs in Beijing is actually much higher.
The Social and Environmental Impacts of Uncollected Dog Waste
Dog waste in urban areas is a largely ignored issue that is nevertheless the source of serious social and environmental problems. Dog waste presents a problem at two stages of waste management: collection and disposal.
Picking up: the Collection of Dog Waste
Uncollected dog waste can negatively affect park aesthetics as well as public health and safety. It can also damage turf and other vegetation. In natural parks or along the edge of water bodies, accumulating dog waste can adversely impact sensitive habitat areas.
On a broader level, uncollected dog waste is an environmental issue. Nonhuman waste can be a significant source of bacterial contamination in urban watersheds. While livestock is the major source of this problem in rural areas, dogs (along with dense populations of wild birds such as seagulls or Canada geese) are typically the source of contamination in urban areas.
Pathogens found in animal waste that is “zoonotic”--capable of being transmitted to humans from animals--are the major cause of concern. If ingested, some of these pathogens (including Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Salmonella among others) may result in serious illness or even death. Roundworm and hookworm infections