{"id":45,"date":"2013-08-27T16:05:55","date_gmt":"2013-08-27T16:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/?p=45"},"modified":"2013-08-27T16:05:55","modified_gmt":"2013-08-27T16:05:55","slug":"mde-reminds-dog-owners-to-scoop-the-poop-every-stinkin-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/2013\/08\/27\/mde-reminds-dog-owners-to-scoop-the-poop-every-stinkin-time\/","title":{"rendered":"MDE reminds dog owners to “Scoop the Poop” every stinkin’ time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pet Waste is Responsible for 24 Percent of Bacteria in Urban and Suburban Waterways\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

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(Baltimore, MD) August 27, 2013<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Robert M. Summers encouraged pet owners to “scoop the poop,” during an event\u00a0held today at Patterson Park in Baltimore City.<\/p>\n

An estimated 1.3 million dogs live, play and poop in Maryland.\u00a0Picking up after your dog’s waste\u00a0is important for your health, the health of your pet and\u00a0Maryland’s environment.\u00a0The simple act of picking up after your\u00a0dog by \u201cscooping the poop\u201d can assist in removing harmful nutrients and bacteria from local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay, keep our citizens healthy and our yards\u00a0and<\/i>\u00a0shoes clean.<\/p>\n

Secretary Summers presented Friends of Patterson Park Executive Director, Jennifer Arndt Robinson and the Fells Prospect Community Association with a proclamation from Governor O’Malley recognizing today as “Scoop the Poop Day in Maryland.” Secretary Summers’ dog, Max, along with other pooches and owners also took the “scoop the poop” pledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
More Information<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pet waste left on our lawns, sidewalks or paved surfaces is carried away by stormwater, ultimately entering our local waterways. Such waste is a significant source of pollution that contaminates our waters with disease-causing bacteria and parasites – potentially making the water unfit for swimming or other recreational activities. Pet waste also has other adverse effects on water quality, such as nutrient over-enrichment which results in oxygen depletion.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
Help Stop Pointless Poo-llution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Below are some tips on what you can do to help keep our watershed clean and healthy:<\/p>\n