Be a Pooper Scooper!

Anyone who’s a dog owner has been there. You’ve been playing fetch with your dog for the last half hour, and just when it’s time to start walking back home, he crouches down and leaves a big pile. And then comes the dreaded moment when you know that it’s time to clean up. But wouldn’t it be so much easier to just leave the mess? No one will know it was you…

But if you care about your health, your dog’s health and your community, it’s imperative that you clean up after your dog. Here’s why:

• Dog feces may contain giardia, E-coli, and parasitic worms among other bacteria, all of which can be transferred to both dogs and humans. Some bacteria can be transmitted through accidental ingestion, but others can be transmitted simply through contact with the skin.

• Dog poop is the #3 cause of water pollution. When feces remain on soil for long periods of time, rainstorms can spread the bacteria into our local water sources without being treated. This contamination can make it unsafe for residents to take full advantage of our beautiful lakefronts and ravines.

• Did you know that dog feces aren’t fertilizer? Because of dogs’ high protein, meat-based diet, their waste can be highly acidic and damage your lawn! So not only is it important to pick up after your dog on walks and in public areas, it’s important to clean up at home too.

We all get tired and sluggish, and doggie droppings are quite unpleasant – so we don’t blame you for not wanting to pick up after your dog. Because we care about you, your dog and our environment, we put together a list of tips to help make clean-up time a little bit easier:

• Use aerosol spray like Poop Freeze to harden the poop so that it’s easier to pick up.

• If you don’t like getting up close and personal with the poo or have trouble bending over, using a pooper scooper is a great option. All you have to do is squeeze the handles together and move the waste to a more appropriate place.

• Another great option is the Doody Digger, which is a motorized pooper scooper that works similar to a vacuum. The best part about the Auggie Dog is that it allows you to pick up after your dog with a simple click of a button.

The best option to give you and your dog safe exercise is to become a member of our dog parks. Membership to a dog park is a wonderful way for you and your dog to play and socialize freely in a safe environment with other dogs and owners. In Highland Park, the Debbie Gottlieb Dog Park (year round) and Highland Park Golf Learning Center Dog Park (mid-Dec – mid-March) feature two off-leash exercise areas – one for big dogs and one for small dogs.  Our dog parks are available to registered dog park members.  Learn more and become a member.