The Port landscaping crew met with the Shilshole Liveaboard Association last week to express her concerns about the increase in dog feces in the garden beds. She has worked diligently to update and maintain the beds after several years of neglect during the Covid lockdown. It’s not all dog owners, but the few who fail to clean up after their dog-whether on the docks or in the gardens.

She is asking that dog owners please be more cognizant of picking up their pet’s waste and the effect it has on the environment and health and safety of other pets and humans.

Here are her 7 Reasons to scoop your pup’s poop…

1. Damage to local water tables (with the help of rain and snow, dog waste will leech into local water supplies and will have a negative effect on wildlife and aquatic vegetation)
2. Exposure to disease (dog feces contains harmful microorganisms like
   E Coli and Salmonella, in addition to a common and devastating canine virus called parvovirus)
3. Parasites (tapeworm, roundworm, hookworm live in the intestines of animals, leaving poop in beds can transfer parasites in the soil which could infect me and other workers)
4. Toxicity (dog urine and feces contains toxins and eventually will harm or kill plants, and makes it difficult to maintain the landscape beds)
5. Reduces beautification (the dog owner and dog traffic eventually kill plants. Last autumn, 85 percent of newly installed plants died because of the constant foot traffic)
6. Pests (large amount of waste will attract mice and rats, (we don’t want to encourage this situation)
7. Your neighbors and Public (be kind, do good for not only your furry friend but for your neighbor, general public and environment)