Dog waste disposal - Question
ADB
checked with my County Extension Service, the EPA, our Vet, and my
sanitation department. The basic responses are as follows:
1) The most controversial issues concerned the composting question. Most
responses including the Extension service, the EPA, and our Vet warned of
possible disease spread from dogs to humans, so composted dog poop should
not be used for vegetable gardens just in case. The recommendation was to
use a seperate compost pile and add vegetation and soil to the mixture and
bury the dog poop to keep the smell and flies down.
The following is one response which spefically mentions a type of pathogen:
"Dogs and humans share quite a few pathogens in common. Clearly, here, the
ones to be really concerned about are the enteric ones such as Giardia.
Since there is no way to guarantee that a compost pile will get hot enough
all the way through to kill off the pathogens in the feces, it isn't a great
idea to be using this compost on veggies. On
flowers is just fine."
There were others who were even more concerned and think that the compost
should not be used anywhere near people.
2) I did check with my sanitation department, via the EPA, and they said
since dog poop is biodegradable that it was O.K. to put it in the trash in
my county. Of course they then added that I should first place it in an
airtight plastic bag (non-biodegradable), seems kind of contradictory to me.
3) An interesting response was to get a worm farm started and gradually add
the dog poop to the farm. The worms would recycle the dog poop into a rich
safer soil. They did warn to not add poop to the worms immediately after
giving the dogs a deworming treatment, good point, might cause apocalypse
worm :^).
4) Several mentioned the doggie septic tank systems available from some dog
supply companies. I have not heard from anyone who actually has one, but
the concept is very logical. Appearantly they use water and an additive to
turn the waste into liquid which will then leach into the ground similar to
a septic tank. I even thought about making one by cutting the bottom out of
an old 5 gallon plastic bucket and burying it up to near the top. The lid
could be used to cover it and I would guess that septic tank additives such
as Rid-X and water would help the decomposition. My concern is that the
systems are best used in sandy or loomy well drained soils and where I live
good old red clay is the default soil type.
5) There were several who use the flush it down the toilet method and I
liked the response about putting it down the septic tank access pipe.
6) I even got a couple of responses relating to throwing the poop over the
fence into the neighbors yard, especially if their dog has ever used your
yard as a bathroom. I had already thought of this since my neighbors dog
did indeed use my yard as it's bathrooma while back, it has since stopped.
The problem with this strategy of revenge is that my dog's piles are about a
third as big as their minature dog and it might be a little too obvious
:^)))
With all of this new knowledge, I think my approach will be to use a
seperate compost pile for the dog waste and donate a portion to the
sanitation department as necessary a little at a time. Probably donate more
to sanitation in the summer for obvious reasons. I still might try the
make-shift dog poop septic tank at some point.
Thanks again for all the responses.
Alan
Bill
wrote:
Alan:
If your sanitation department is willing to take dog poop and you have
all these concerns about composting, I suggest that you dispose of all
of it in the garbage.
Get yourself a plastic 5 gallon bucket and place your "hefty" garbage
bag in it. When it's approx. 1/2 full (poop is heavy), tie the bag in
a knot and place in the garbage.
Regarding disease transmission from dogs to people. Since most people
allow their dogs to lick their faces (probably immediately after the
dog has licked it's butt), IMHO I think the risk if disease
transmission via compost is low compared to having physical contact
with the dog.
You will also running a greater risk handling the raw poop (picking it
up, placing it in the garbage, cleaning up indoor accidents etc.). At
some point you will get some on your hands or clothes.
Bill
lizr...@wantree.com.au
>Alan:
>
>If your sanitation department is willing to take dog poop and you have
>all these concerns about composting, I suggest that you dispose of all
>of it in the garbage.
>
>Get yourself a plastic 5 gallon bucket and place your "hefty" garbage
>bag in it. When it's approx. 1/2 full (poop is heavy), tie the bag in
>a knot and place in the garbage.
>
>Regarding disease transmission from dogs to people. Since most people
>allow their dogs to lick their faces (probably immediately after the
>dog has licked it's butt), IMHO I think the risk if disease
>transmission via compost is low compared to having physical contact
>with the dog.
>
>You will also running a greater risk handling the raw poop (picking it
>up, placing it in the garbage, cleaning up indoor accidents etc.). At
>some point you will get some on your hands or clothes.
>
>Bill
Good response Bill (IMO)
I just had a wee chat with a veterinary (or vit'nry as they say in
Yorkshire - James Herriot :) parisitologist.
He reckons that the giardia thing is a bit of a beat-up. Apparently
everyone has it or has had it, and it is moot whether it causes any
probs. If they find it, they tend to blame it!
Now it is argued that dog giardia can't transmit to humans, but one
thing is for sure - humans can infect dogs with their giardia.
So don't put YOUR poop in the DOG'S compost! OK?
The thing that worried this guy the most was echinococcus - hydatids.
This can be nasty with a bad type of it in some parts of the US.
The dog gets it from uncooked wild game that farmers allow their dogs
to eat. The dog poops on a tuft of grass, the farmer pulls a piece of
grass to chew while he's contemplating life at the farm gate and
voila! (or walla for you alternative spellers :)
City dogs whose diets are well monitored and who are regularly treated
for tape worms pose no problems.
If the poop is put in the middle of the compost, the heat should kill
anything.
Normal hygiene with veggies will prevent any infections.
Please note that as poop is so heavy (thanks for that Bill)
it should only be thrown at fans with sturdy well-attached blades.
Hope this helps. John Riley West Oz
Toni
ADB <ala...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:7u6523$5eh$1...@nntp8.atl.mindspring.net...
> 4) Several mentioned the doggie septic tank systems available from some
dog
> supply companies. I have not heard from anyone who actually has one, but
> the concept is very logical. Appearantly they use water and an additive
to
> turn the waste into liquid which will then leach into the ground similar
to
> a septic tank. I even thought about making one by cutting the bottom out
of
> an old 5 gallon plastic bucket and burying it up to near the top. The lid
> could be used to cover it and I would guess that septic tank additives
such
> as Rid-X and water would help the decomposition. My concern is that the
> systems are best used in sandy or loomy well drained soils and where I
live
> good old red clay is the default soil type.
Doggie Dooley's success varies greatly, depending on (as you surmised) soil
type and your water table. They are also designed to deal with a limited
amount of poop-- the label states '2 medium' dogs, IIRC.
We have a simple foot operated garbage can specifically for the poop (and
boy do we have poop!), and we tie up a small bag every day, then double
(sometimes triple) bag on twice weekly garbage days.
Not terribly PC or environmentally friendly, but the best option for us.
Incidentally-- occasionally, one of our bags will be "broken into" by a
varmint of some sort-- I'm guessing the bufo toads, as I've actually seen
them feasting. What else might want dog poop?
--
Toni
www.irish-wolfhounds.com
e-mail Toni [at] irish-wolfhounds [dot] com
MaryBeth
the food. It recycles the bags, they are very sturdy, and when filled
halfway, not too heavy. I then seal them up and dispose of them with my
trash. I figure these are strong enough and more environmentally friendly
that plastic bags. <G>
MaryBeth
rob_...@my-deja.com
"ADB" <ala...@mindspring.com> wrote:
Alan:
There have been several responses to your memo...so I won't say 'me to'
to everthing that has been said, but I'd like to add a few points.
> Well I got many responses from the gardening newsgroup as well, and I
> checked with my County Extension Service, the EPA, our Vet, and my
> sanitation department. The basic responses are as follows:
>
> 1) The most controversial issues concerned the composting question.
Most
> responses including the Extension service, the EPA, and our Vet
warned of
> possible disease spread from dogs to humans, so composted dog poop
should
> not be used for vegetable gardens just in case. The recommendation
was to
> use a seperate compost pile and add vegetation and soil to the
mixture and
> bury the dog poop to keep the smell and flies down.
What do you plan to put in your separate composts? ie., your dog poops
on the lawn, do you put lawn clippings in your veggie garden compost?
>
> The following is one response which spefically mentions a type of
pathogen:
> "Dogs and humans share quite a few pathogens in common. Clearly,
here, the
> ones to be really concerned about are the enteric ones such as
Giardia.
> Since there is no way to guarantee that a compost pile will get hot
enough
> all the way through to kill off the pathogens in the feces, it isn't
a great
> idea to be using this compost on veggies. On
> flowers is just fine."
>
> There were others who were even more concerned and think that the
compost
> should not be used anywhere near people.
>
> 2) I did check with my sanitation department, via the EPA, and they
said
> since dog poop is biodegradable that it was O.K. to put it in the
trash in
> my county. Of course they then added that I should first place it in
an
> airtight plastic bag (non-biodegradable), seems kind of contradictory
to me.
Not all sanitation depts. will accept poop of any sort...same health
risk to the employees...ie. if a bag burst. My municipal service
specifically states I cannot place it in the garbage.
>
> 3) An interesting response was to get a worm farm started and
gradually add
> the dog poop to the farm. The worms would recycle the dog poop into
a rich
> safer soil. They did warn to not add poop to the worms immediately
after
> giving the dogs a deworming treatment, good point, might cause
apocalypse
> worm :^).
>
> 4) Several mentioned the doggie septic tank systems available from
some dog
> supply companies. I have not heard from anyone who actually has one,
but
> the concept is very logical. Appearantly they use water and an
additive to
> turn the waste into liquid which will then leach into the ground
similar to
> a septic tank. I even thought about making one by cutting the bottom
out of
> an old 5 gallon plastic bucket and burying it up to near the top.
The lid
> could be used to cover it and I would guess that septic tank
additives such
> as Rid-X and water would help the decomposition. My concern is that
the
> systems are best used in sandy or loomy well drained soils and where
I live
> good old red clay is the default soil type.
I also have clay (hardpan) 6" under the ground. In the winter, the
water does not penetrate and any holes fill with water....so, if I had
one of those doggie septic tanks, it would fill with water and all
sorts of goodies would flow out of it. Also, you need to consider the
volume of poop that your dog(s) generate.
>
> 5) There were several who use the flush it down the toilet method
and I
> liked the response about putting it down the septic tank access pipe.
>
> 6) I even got a couple of responses relating to throwing the poop
over the
> fence into the neighbors yard, especially if their dog has ever used
your
> yard as a bathroom. I had already thought of this since my neighbors
dog
> did indeed use my yard as it's bathrooma while back, it has since
stopped.
> The problem with this strategy of revenge is that my dog's piles are
about a
> third as big as their minature dog and it might be a little too
obvious
> :^)))
I agree, probably not a good idea ... you may want to return you
neighbour's dog dropping in a plastic bag, along with a photograph of
the dog making the deposit.
>
> With all of this new knowledge, I think my approach will be to use a
> seperate compost pile for the dog waste and donate a portion to the
> sanitation department as necessary a little at a time. Probably
donate more
> to sanitation in the summer for obvious reasons. I still might try
the
> make-shift dog poop septic tank at some point.
>
> Thanks again for all the responses.
>
> Alan
>
>
--
Rob
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
The Hudsons
Bill wrote in message <3806b23a...@news.islandnet.com>...
dog
>>supply companies. I have not heard from anyone who actually has one, but
>>the concept is very logical. Appearantly they use water and an additive
to
>>turn the waste into liquid which will then leach into the ground similar
to
>>a septic tank. I even thought about making one by cutting the bottom out
of
>>an old 5 gallon plastic bucket and burying it up to near the top. The lid
>>could be used to cover it and I would guess that septic tank additives
such
>>as Rid-X and water would help the decomposition. My concern is that the
>>systems are best used in sandy or loomy well drained soils and where I
live
>>good old red clay is the default soil type.
I had one of those doggie septic tanks when we lived in NJ. It worked well,
if it was maintained - you had to add water and the enzyme weekly. It
stopped working when the weather turned freezing, but it would start right
back up come spring. Unfortunately, I started travelling before we left NJ
and the system got away from me - I wasn't around to add water or the
enzymes and the whole process basically broke down. Now that we've
relocated and I'm not travelling I was just getting ready to get myself a
new one.
Dunc.
You're surfing anyways, so why don't you let yourself get paid for it...
Check out http://www.alladvantage.com/go.asp?refid=ekw405
Toad
>
> > 6) I even got a couple of responses relating to throwing the poop
> over the
> > fence into the neighbors yard,
-I did make a suggestion of this sort when this first came out, but it was
a joke, you know humor, maybe in poor taste but humor all the same. Just
wanted to clear that up.
(0)_(0)
{-------} Uuuhhh, Ribbit
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