Attention dog owners: Pet waste is messy and smelly, and disposing of it properly is a neighborly and necessary part of being a responsible pet owner. But you already knew that.
But were you aware that pet waste can also pollute neighborhood creeks, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay? Left “unscooped” on lawns, parks, and other outdoor areas, pet waste can run off into local waterways after a rain or snowfall, sending bacteria and other pathogens into our local waterways and making them unfit for wading or swimming. In fact, many miles of Richmond-area streams are polluted because of this very problem.
To help improve water quality in the Upham Brook watershed in Northside Richmond and Henrico County, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is sponsoring a series of free educational “dog walks” this spring to help alert pet owners about the importance of picking up and properly disposing of pet waste.
Participating dog walkers will receive an informative “Scoop the Poop” brochure and a free doggie poop bag holder (stocked with plastic baggies) that attaches easily to their pet’s leash for easy access when walking their pet.
Upham Brook, which flows through Richmond’s Bryan Park and Northern Henrico, is currently polluted by high levels of bacteria. By taking personal action to pick up after our pets, dog owners can make a real difference in making this Chesapeake Bay tributary stream cleaner and safer for us and our pets.
Below is the schedule for the spring dog walks. Bring your favorite pooch out for a walk in the watershed with CBF!
March 25 (Sunday), Three Lakes Park (Henrico), 3 p.m.-4 p.m.
April 7 (Saturday), Bryan Park-Picnic Shelter 1, 9 am.-10 a.m.
April 11 (Wednesday), Bryan Park-Picnic Shelter 1, 6 p.m.-7 p.m.
April 18 (Wednesday), Cheswick Park (Henrico), 6 p.m.-7 p.m.
April 25 (Wednesday), Three Lakes Park, 6 p.m.-7 p.m.
For more information, contact Jess Barton at 804-780-1302 or jbarton@cbf.org.
Today's guest post is by Jessica Barton. Jessica is the VA Grassroots Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.
Stop by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation booth at the Holiday Barn Pet Resorts Vendor Fair next Saturday, March 24 at the Dog Jog and 5K Run. CBF will be located next to the event's official "Pooper Scooper" sponsor, DoodyCalls, a professional pet waste management company that makes housecalls.
Doody Calls has a special offer for animal lovers in March and April. During these two months, DoodyCalls will donate 50 percent of all profits from any supply purchase made on doodycallsdirect.com and 50 percent of all new client sign ups for residential or commercial services to the Richmond SPCA and the homeless pets in our care! Just use the code "Richmond SPCA" when ordering supplies or signing up for their cool service. To sign up for the service, call 1-800-DOODYCALLS.
Great to see the the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Richmond SPCA put this initiative together. Most people are good. Its unfortunate the few BadOwners out there cause such a stink. http://www.facebook.com/BadOwner.org
Posted by: Jim McDougal | March 23, 2012 at 12:43 AM