Scoop The Poop Pledge
Sign the Doody-Free Water Pledge Today!
Did you know that, unlike most other animals, dog waste contains high levels of bacteria that is harmful to your humans, and even to wild animals, like your favorite squirrels? Dog feces is one of the most significant pollutants of the Mill Creek Watershed and its major tributaries. According to the EPA, one gram of dog waste can contain upwards of 23 million fecal bacteria, and is considered as toxic as an oil spill! When piles and piles of this stuff are left to the elements, all of these pathogens make their way to Mill Creek as runoff. It doesn’t matter how far from the creek the dog waste is deposited, if you poop in the ‘shed, it’s going to get in the water! Let's be clear! There are 83 million of us (dogs) in the United States, producing some 10.6 million tons of poop every year! Yucch! One of the most serious consequences of dissolved dog waste in waterways is that these pathogens contribute to harmful algal blooms (HUBs) that can sicken and even kill dogs that play in the water. These have been happening more frequently here in our Nashville watersheds.
Let’s get back to the Mill Creek watershed. Us dogs live in high concentrations in Mill Creek communities, much like humans. All of us need to eliminate and our “toilet” is our watershed! (Imagine if all our humans in Mill Creek pooped in the ‘shed too!) Ok so you’re getting the picture, we have a poop problem in the Mill Creek watershed!
The high levels of these contaminants are due in part to the already extensive urbanization of the Mill Creek watershed. The rapid urbanization of the headwater areas of Mill Creek is quickly adding increased runoff into the river and unhealthy levels of fecal contamination will continue to rise. Add to that the estimate that Nashville will soon be home to over one million dogs, all needing bathroom facilities, it becomes imperative that we reinvigorate our efforts to keep dog feces out of the Mill Creek and its watershed! Please Sign our Pledge to do your Environmental Doody today! Upload your picture so we can know who you are and thank you when we see you around the ‘Shed! Oh and feel free to encourage your human’s to donate to our organization to help us keep Mill Creek Clean for everyone!