Leave Only Paw Prints

It’s the time of year when our community flocks outdoors to smell the flowers, however there is another smell that you might pick up when exploring your favorite part of town.

This Summer, PAWS has been receiving cries for help about the increasing amount of dog poop that is being left on our trails, walkways and shared spaces. Examples of what we see and hear about include: poop bags being left along roadways, dog waste piles in highly trafficked areas, dog waste in prohibited shared spaces, and dog poop bags being tossed a few feet away from the trash can and not making it inside. We understand that sometimes we forget to finish the job, however with roughly 10,000 dogs in this community, those forgetful moments add up quickly.

We pride ourselves on being a community that loves our dogs and loves to recreate in this beautiful area; but if that’s the case, then why are we okay with not picking up the dog poop that takes away from this positive experience?

On top of the unpleasant smell and risk of stepping in a pile of dog poop, the cost of not picking up waste is exponentially higher than just having to wipe off your shoe. Stormwater carries pet waste and other pollutants directly into waterways, such as nitrogen. Excess nitrogen depletes the oxygen in water necessary for beneficial underwater grasses, wildlife and fish. Dog waste may also contain harmful organisms such as Giardia, Salmonella and E. coli that can be transmitted to humans and other animals by ingesting contaminated water. Roundworms and hookworms deposited by infected animals can live in the soil for long periods of time and be transmitted to other animals and humans. Picking up poop is imperative for protecting our water and wildlife.

Thanks to generous donations, PAWS can provide Mutt Mitts, trash cans, and waste removal services at 26 high-traffic dog locations throughout our community. Each year, we collect an estimated 150,000 bags of dog waste—that’s 150,000 piles of poop that don’t end up in our water, on our trails, or under someone’s shoe. That’s a big win—and we applaud everyone doing their part.

But we still hear a lot of suggestions about what more PAWS could do to keep our trails poop-free. Over the years, we’ve tried a lot:

• Clean-up events (low turnout)

• Prize money for collecting the most poop (only 4 people participated)

• Outreach on trails

• Educational signage

• Public service ads in newspapers, on social media, and even in local movie theaters

What we want to clarify is this: PAWS isn’t a sanitation service. Our role is to provide the tools and resources that make it easier for everyone to be responsible.

At the end of the day, how we treat our shared spaces says everything about who we are as a community. Being a responsible pet owner isn’t hard—it’s a choice. So we’re asking all dog owners:

When you're out with your dog, carry two bags. Pick up two piles. Make sure it ends up in a trash can. Every time.

These small, consistent actions are what keep our trails clean and our community proud. Let’s keep stepping up—for each other, and for the place we all call home.