Why bother with such a little issue?

4000 dogs in Jefferson County
+ 3/4 lb of waste per day/dog (Kitsap Co. statistical average)
+ 50% of all pet owners in Washington State walk their dogs in public places*
+ 200 Miles of Shorelines in Jefferson County
+ Up to 40% of dog owners DO NOT pick up after their pet*
+ More paved surfaces and more runoff in urban areas

How does it add up?
4000 X 3/4 pounds = 3000 pounds of dog poop DAILY in Jefferson County
50% in public places X 40% not picking up = 600 pounds!

600 pounds of waste in public places in Jefferson County each day!


It used to be that “Mother Nature’s natural system”  could take care pet wastes left in public places, but with more people sharing the same space, more paved surfaces and more dogs, the “natural system” can’t keep up.  When it rains, dog poop melts away and runoff carries it to storm drains, ditches and streams that feed our rivers, lakes and marine water.

• While studies show that pet waste is a significant pollution source Puget Sound, surveys have shown that citizens do not believe it is an important water pollution problem.  *Washington State Department of Ecology
• A single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coli form bacteria and can include parasites, viruses and diseases found in dog feces. 
• Bacteria are the most common pollutant in Washington state waters, affecting at least 30% of the state's impaired waterbodies.  *Washington State Department of Ecology
• Bacterial source tracking studies in a watershed in the Seattle, Washington area found that nearly 20% of the bacteria isolates that could be matched with host animals were matched with dogs.

Here's what you can do:

• BYOB - Bring your own bag 

• Scoop the poop.    Bag it.    Trash it.

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Research on Pet Waste

As a non-point pollution source
As a surface water management issue
Pet laws in Jefferson County
WSU regional study in Alaska
How to conduct a pet waste outreach campaign

Where to get more information on this issue:

• Click here for places to walk your dog in Jefferson County that have pet waste stations.

• Washington State Department of Ecology

• Snohomish County, a leader in the state on this issue

• Crosscut