~~ nC er ee 40 - North Shore Nows - Sunday, May 28, 2000 canine connection WHILE looking back through my past ‘columns I noticed that I have been writing about dog poop quite a bit lately. It’s not as though I have ‘a poop fetish or anything, “ there just seems to be an endiess amount of topics ~ surrounding this subject. | thought I was doing a good job of pointing out the need for. cleaning up. after our . dogs and the responsibilities -(of being a good dog owner. Then I read North Shore News, columnist Shannon Nelsan’s piece, a ‘few weeks back, about how she chucks her dog’ S poop - into the woods while on walks. T kept my cool while reading her philosophies behind this act, but admit that the hairs on my neck did rise. Like | said, f understand her philosophies, which are basically that the poop has a better chance of decompos- ing in the bushes as opposed to being tied up in a plastic bay. But I don't agree with them. Let’s look at che lite- cycle of poop for a moment. (fam sorry to those who are reading this over their breakfast!) Poop which has been lett in the open to decompose poses a major health isstic. The most obvious one is the transmission of a parasite ‘ ¢alled Toxocars canis, the common roundworm found in dogs. Humans can be infected by this parasite by coming in - direct contact with the infected feces or the soil where the infected feces was left. This parasite can lead to La a variety of health problems, PETs — inthe bush | everything from blindness to neurological disorders. But the funny ching is, is that transmission dees not occur from fresh feces. The egus of the roundworm begin to become infectious anywhere from two weeks to a month after being exposed to the environment. That means those tossed feces are more toxic two weeks into decomposition than they are fresh out of . the back end of a dog. What is even more svary is that the roundworm eggs can live in the soi} for years, waiting for the right host to come by! We get the majority of our water from the leaching of rain water from the ground inte reservoirs. Parasites found in feces can infect and travel with that leached water. Fortunately water treac- ment plants can kill these parasites bur the water that our dogs often drink, out of streams or puddles while on a walk, have not been treat- ed, This can lead to infection of round worm as well as Giardia another parasite which is transmitted to humans. These are only wo of many harmful parasites which can be found in canine feces. The only way to guaran- tee that 3 dog does not have intestinal parasites is to have a fecal exam done by a vet crinarian every six months. There is also the issue of responsibility. ‘Tossing dog feces in a bush is nothing more than an out of sight, out of mind attitude: “I's not my prob- lem anymore.” What about the dog owner whose dog has a feces eating problem? The owner is trying hard to curb the problem by shooing their dog away from the feces on trails, sidewalks, front yards, ete. Now they have to fol- low their dog into the bush- es to prevent the problenv? Let's help these people out, not make it more difficult for them. What about the family with no dog, out for a hike and their children are play- ing hide ’n seek in the bush- es, as children often do? Should they be subjected to the transmission of disease by having to scrape poop off their shoes? Last, but certainly not least, is the unsightly mess and odour attached to decaying feces. It may not be so prevalent in the rainy winter months, but has any- one walked through. the Canyons, Mosquito creek, Ambleside Park or. Bridgeman Park on a warm humid day? The stench of dog poop is unbearabie! .. After having said all this, I hope that everyone thinks .... twice before they leave their’ dog’s poop behind. Sorry, Shannon. - : — Joann is the owner of Sierra K9- Training. Academy. For advice or training tips e- mail. her at . Comments in the form of Human’ s name: 2 letter to the edlitor are welcome." “years ‘old ‘Natural, Choice } Le 3 Breed: ‘Adult Natural ‘Choice Lamb & Rice: _ Dog Food” "Register before Friday Ju June 16 ~ Call BC Rail at 964-5616 — 2477 Marine Drive - West Vancouver - ee -