When communities allow dogs, issues with pet waste tend to follow. As unpleasant and time consuming as managing this waste may be, keeping it off the ground is an important responsibility held by the community manager.
For many pet friendly communities, introducing pet waste stations is a great way to keep common grounds clear of wayward doggie deposits. Installing and maintaining stations encourages resident pet owners to pick up after their pet and properly dispose of the waste, and it also communicates to non-pet owning residents that you care about keeping pet waste issues under control.
As effective as pet waste stations can be, however, they do have an achilles heel: Poop Soup.
Unfortunately, the waste bins on many pet waste stations accumulate water when it rains. This water collects inside of the waste bin’s plastic liner, thoroughly mixing with deposited waste and often times sitting for a number of days before the next scheduled station servicing occurs. Needless to say, it is not pleasant – especially during summer months. More importantly, this “poop soup” can present a number of health concerns for residents and their pets.
While many of us don’t realize it, dog waste is more than just a gross and unsightly mess. Dog waste often carries parasites and bacteria that can be transmitted directly to humans upon contact and make us sick.
Ringworm, roundworm, salmonella, giardia and E. coli are examples of such inhabitants, all of which are found in dog feces and are easily transferable upon contact. Roundworm, for example, is one of the most common parasites found in dog droppings and it can remain infectious in contaminated soil and water for years.
What makes poop soup uniquely hazardous is the unpredictability of liquids in motion. As stations are serviced, plastic liners filled with parasite and bacteria-laden waste water need to be pulled out; one rip, tear or snag and the floodgates open, spilling and splashing poop soup all over the ground.
Poop soup mishaps are not only danger to the bag handler but also for any residents and their pets who come across the mess before its cleaned up. Soupy waste can unknowingly be tracked into the house on the bottom of shoes and paws, and dogs sniffing the ground are at risk of ingesting any parasites or bacteria living in the waste.
To prevent poop soup incidents, as well as broader pet waste issues, the best action community managers can take is to hire a professional pet waste management service to handle the job. These specialists bring their tools and experience into the community to eliminate issues related to dog waste and to make your residents happy. Most importantly, a professional pet waste technician knows how to maneuver poop soup-filled bags without incident. On the off chance there is a breach, not to worry: a professional is on the scene to clean up the spill before any harm can be done.