Canines for Clean Water

In Long Island Sound, pet waste remains a major contributor to degraded water quality. This can pose a serious health risk to animals and people throughout the entire watershed – not just along the coast. When pet waste is not properly disposed of, it can wash away into lakes, streams, and, eventually, into Long Island Sound. As pet waste decays, it releases nitrogen and phosphorus into the water, which can increase harmful algae growth and deplete oxygen availability for living things. Additionally, pet waste contains ammonia – a toxic contaminant – along with bacteria and parasites that can make people and wildlife sick. In fact, one gram of dog waste (the weight of a business card) contains 23 million fecal coliform bacteria—almost twice as much as human waste. Woof!

Canines for Clean Water encourages responsible disposal of pet waste to ensure healthy water quality for everyone to enjoy.

• Remember to always clean up after your pets by disposing of waste in the appropriate baggies and placing those bags in a trash bin or pet waste receptacle. Be especially diligent in sensitive wildlife habitat areas and near bodies of water.
• Don’t bury or compost pet waste.
• Take the Clean Water Pledge and spread the word to others!

For more information on how to participate in the Canines for Clean Water campaign, email Connecticut Outreach Coordinator Maggie Cozens at margaret.cozens@uconn.edu.