Why is it important to clean up after your dog?

The question of why in public places you need to clean up after your dog concerns every owner. It is especially important to do this in the city, since dog excrement can become a source of parasites and bacteria infecting other animals and people. The federal law “On Responsible Treatment of Animals”, adopted by the State Duma in 2018, implies walking dogs with mandatory cleaning of their waste. Administrative liability is provided for violation of the rules for keeping pets.

Why clean up after your dog while walking?

Each owner must follow three important rules:

1. Maintain the cleanliness of streets, parks, squares, etc. for aesthetic reasons. 

2. Think about the hygiene of the city and your own safety. Dog feces contain a huge number of pathogens that can be brought home on the soles of shoes.

3. Consciously promote the culture of keeping pets, setting an example for other owners.

What to use for cleaning: bags, dustpan, hygiene tongs

To clean up after the dog outside, you can use garbage or disposable plastic bags. You put them on your hand like a glove, turn the edges inside out and tie. Paper bags are also good. You put dog waste in a bag, wrap it up and throw it in the trash. As a bag, you can use already used paper cups for drinks, labels, which is a more environmentally sound solution, because it increases the reuse of disposable items that are already subject to recycling. Ideally, dog waste should be thrown into special bins in walking areas, into drains, sprinkled on top of the ground, or brought home in a bag and flushed down the toilet. Biodegradable bags are not very popular with owners, but they are also suitable for cleaning up your pet’s excrement. Under no circumstances should they be disposed of in the recycling bin. The workers sort the garbage, and separating the hygienic waste makes their job difficult.

Purchased bags most often come with plastic tongs for cleaning. They are put on a disposable bag and open by pressing on their metal base, after which you can grab the waste. And to throw the bag into the trash, you need to open the tongs again.

Also, for cleaning up after your pet, you can buy a scoop for a cat tray, a small rake or a regular scoop in the shape of a bucket. It is also recommended to use homemade cardboard spatulas. If you want to make this process more comfortable, buy a dustpan with a long handle or a removable nozzle that will allow you to clean up after your dog in any area.

Dog-friendly environment and comfortable walks with dogs in public places are primarily the responsibility of the owners themselves. Cleaning up your four-legged friend’s feces is not such a burdensome process. Just get into this useful and aesthetic habit that will protect both you and those around you from infection and will keep public spaces clean.