Sarasota Bay Estuary Program - Sarasota, Florida - Preserving Sarasota's Water Heritage for the Future

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program - Sarasota, Florida - Preserving Sarasota's Water Heritage for the Future

Protect public health and the Bay, pick up after your pet!

Clean Water, Clean Yards, Clean Shoes!
Pet waste is a significant source of nutrients and fecal coliform bacteria entering Sarasota Bay. Dog poop does not stay on the grass but gets washed down the stormdrains and delivered untreated to the closest waterway during rain events. To address pet waste pollution the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program has teamed up with its sister program, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, to bring the successful Pooches for the Planet pet waste pollution education program to the Sarasota Bay watershed.

Download the PDF

Join Pooches for the Planet on Facebook by

clicking here.

Get free Pooches for the Planet door hangers and rack cards (in English & Spanish) for your neighborhood distribution by contacting Yvette@SimplyGreen.biz or call (941) 981-9253. Logos, fact sheets, links and articles for community newsletters to share are also available.

To watch a video about how pet waste pollutes our waterways visit www.stormwater.ucf.edu/research/petwaste

Fast Facts About Pet Waste

* An average-size dog dropping produces 3 billion fecal coliform bacteria.

* Research has shown that up to 95 percent of the fecal coliform found in urban stormwater comes from animals.

* Observations of people walking their pets in public areas show that men are less likely to pick up after their pets than women.

* A new national survey says that 38 percent of dog owners don't clean up after their pets.

Top 5 Reasons People DON'T Pick Up After Their Pets

1) Because it eventually just goes away

2) Just Because

3) Too much work

4) Dog goes on the edge of my property where I don't walk

5) It's in my yard where it doesn't bother anyone

Top 5 Reasons People DO Pick Up After Their Pets

1) It's the law

2) Environmental reasons

3) Hygiene and health reasons

4) Neighborhood courtesy

5) It should be done

Four out of ten U.S. households have a dog

American's 72 million dogs produce about 40,000 tons of pet waste every day! (American Veterinary Medical Association)

A big BOW WOW and Thank You to the sponsors of our Pooches for the Planet adoption kits!