Norfolk, Va. – The Downtown Norfolk Council has launched a campaign to build awareness about how dog poop impacts the Downtown environment.
The Council wants to send dog owners a simple message–scoop the poop!
Most urban areas have 125 per square mile, but natural ecosystems can only accommodate two dogs per square mile.
The campaign will direct dog owners to 23 trash cans in Downtown Norfolk. There will be 150 total trash cans for disposal. The trash cans will have complimentary dog bags and free leash bags.
“We’re reaching out to our dog owners to do the right thing and be responsible with pet waste,” said Mary Miller, president and CEO of Downtown Norfolk Council. “Although it’s punishable by law, we think that we’ll be far more effective by educating people on the environmental issues and making it easy to comply.”
The DNC says peer pressure will be used by highlighting people who Scoop the Poop through videos and photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Here’s more information on dog waste provide by the Downtown Norfolk Council:
- Dog waste is toxic and the Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as a dangerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals and oil
- Dog poop gets washed into the water system with rain and is harmful to aquatic life
- Pet waste contains E Coli and other harmful bacteria, which can cause serious kidney disorders, intestinal illness, cramps and diarrhea in humans
- Pet waster contains roundworm larvae, which causes blindness
- Pet waste attracts rats
