Do you want to do your part for a cleaner environment and a healthier neighborhood? If you have yard -- and a dog that plays on it -- then making a difference is easier than you think.

Here's a dirty little secret that most people don't know: Dog doo causes water pollution. That's right, dog doo. It's full of germs that can make people and animals sick. Water scientists find that in some waterways, as much as 25% of the disease-causing germs they find come from pet waste. Think about that the next time you see that "no swimming" sign at an inviting-looking local lake.

You've probably never seen a pet owner throw dog doo directly into the water, so you might wonder "how these germs get there?" The answer is that the rain carries it there. Everytime it rains, the water  runoff carries dog doo across the ground, into the street, and down the storm drain into local creeks, rivers, and eventually, the Chesapeake Bay.

You may not even realize it, but every time you scoop the poop when you're out walking the dog, you're being a good environmental citizen doing your part to prevent water pollution. And you probably thought you were just being a good neighbor!

But here's an important point -- dog doo left on your yard causes water pollution just the same as dog doo left on the sidewalk or in a public place. Dog doo is not a natural part of your area's ecosystem, especially not in the amounts found in a normal neighborhood. Wild animals spread their waste over wide areas. But on the average quarter acre yard, the bacteria levels from dog doo can build up fast!

It would be great if dog doo was good fertilizer for your lawn or garden -- like cow or chicken manure -- but those little brown spots of dead grass tell us that it's not. Unlike cows and chickens, dogs' diets -- and their waste -- have high concentrations of protein. Dog doo "burns" the soil and kills grass.

So here's what you can do to protect your yard and the local waterways where children play and animals live: pick up the dog doo when you walk your dog AND when he or she "goes" in the yard. You know the drill -- scoop the poop in a plastic bag, tie it shut, and toss it in the trash. Your friendly neighborhood sanitation workers will take care of it from there.

And you don't have to do it yourself, if you don't want to. All you have to do is run a quick Google search for "poop scoop service," and you will find plenty of local businesses eager to take that chore off your hands. Expect prices to start at $50 per month, and go up from there depending on how big your yard is, how many dogs you have, and how often you want the poop scoop service to come by.

Green grass and clean water. Do your part for both of these -- pick up after your dog when you take it for a walk AND from the yard around your house.

About the Author:
Are you a Virginia dog owner? Then check out the Northern Virginia Dog Blog -- your source for canine news and fun. This article was placed in this directory by the environmental message and communications company Water Words That Work, LLC, on behalf of the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners.