By Bill Sullivan

Picking up after your dog isn’t just the polite thing to do: It’s good for your health, your neighbor’s health, and even your pooch’s well-being.

While park spaces can facilitate special events and provide open play areas, they often serve another purpose for local dog owners. Unfortunately, some residents are neglecting to clean up after their pet, even after a walk in their own neighborhood.

How much harm can all this do? Beyond the unsightly aspects of uncollected waste, consequences can include:

• Dog illnesses: Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that affects dogs of any age, breed and gender and can be particularly harmful to unvaccinated puppies. It causes diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, depression and, in some cases, death. Parvovirus is transmitted by contact with infected dog waste either directly or indirectly (soiled shoes, car tires, etc.). Worse yet, contaminated waste can remain infectious for six months or more.
• Human illnesses: Campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidium and toxocariasis are among the diseases and parasites that can be passed from dogs to people.
• Water quality issues: Pollutants from pet waste can be washed into storm drains after rains, in some cases passing directly into lakes and streams. The waste then decays, using oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia, combined with warm temperatures, can kill fish. Pet waste also contains nutrients that can promote weed and algae growth, making water unsafe for fishing, swimming or boating.

If you are walking your dog in your neighborhood or at a park, do the right thing. Bring along a storage bag, or one of a number of other options. After your animal has conducted his business, scoop up the droppings and dispose of them in a trash can or at your own home.

It’s all part of being a good neighbor and making Frisco a safer place for humans and pets alike.