Pledge to ‘Doo the Right Thing’ and Enter Your Pup in a Calendar Contest

By Office of Communication

Posted on April 14, 2016, April 14, 2016

We' re calling on the dog owners in Arlington to protect our waters and community by pledging to Doo the Right Thing. Owners who pledge to Doo the Right Thing and pick up after their dogs have the chance to enter them in the North Central Texas Council of Governments Public Education Task Force' s 2017 Calendar Photo Contest. That means your dog could be featured in next year' s calendar!

Why should you pick up after your dog?

• Besides being messy and unsightly, dog waste is a health risk for pets and people. Pets, kids playing outside, and adults who garden are most at risk for infection from the bacteria and parasites found in dog waste.
• Dog waste affects our water quality. When dog waste is left on the ground, rain or sprinkler runoff can wash the waste down our storm drains where the water runs directly into creeks, rivers, and lakes. These water bodies are the source of our drinking water and where we swim, fish, and boat.
• When the waste decays in water, it uses up dissolved oxygen and releases nutrients that causes algae growth, harming fish and other aquatic life.
• An estimated 1.5 million dogs live in the North Central Texas region, producing more than 500 tons of waste each day. While one pile of dog poop may not seem like a big deal, many piles can add up to a substantial problem. It' s up to the entire region to be part of the solution-and your personal commitment makes a huge difference.

So take this opportunity to pledge to Doo the Right Thing by picking up after your dog on walks, picking up droppings in your yard regularly, and properly disposing of the waste. If you submit your dog' s photo in the calendar contest, your pup could even be our next cover dog!

Tips for dealing with pet waste:

• Always carry a couple of bags to pick up after your dog on walks. Plastic bread bags, plastic newspaper sleeves, and plastic produce bags work great.
• At least once a week, clean up droppings around your yard.
• Toss bagged waste in the trash. (If it' s not bagged, you can flush it down the toilet.)

Visit www.dfwstormwater.com/petwaste to learn more about the impacts of dog waste, take the pledge, and submit your dog' s photo. People who have pledged in prior years are welcome to take the pledge again. The contest ends June 30, 2016. We can' t wait to see your photos!