July 2023
Backyard Conversation
Connecting Community + Conservation
Welcome to the Backyard Conversation! Each month we'll be sharing a conservation topic from a more personal viewpoint for our readers. To make this successful, I want to hear feedback from you! I'll include a poll at the bottom regarding our topic and share links to some of our partner organizations with similar messages. So, let's get to it!
Practice PUP: Pick Up Poop
An easy way to keep our waterways clean
PUP
"My name is Zeus, and I'm here to tell you to PUP. Woof!"

In all seriousness though, dog poop is bad for our environment and turfgrass. It's important that we pick it up not only for cleanliness but to also prevent contaminants from entering our waterways. If dog poop is not cleaned up, it can kill the grass. When it rains, it is washed into our storm drains and waterways. Yuck. There are estimated 277,000 dogs in Franklin County alone that produce around 104 tons of poop per day.
Why is pet waste a problem for waterways?
Dog poop is high in nutrients and bacteria including e. Coli. These nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen will dissolve in water. Excessive nutrients in waterways causes algal growth, which depletes the amount of oxygen in a body of water, which can cause problems for the critters and fish that live in our waterways. Dog poop containing worms or parasites can even spread worms and parasites to other animals. Plus, nobody wants to dodge dog poop piles. We have a simple solution: Practice PUP = Pick Up Poop.
What is the best way to dispose of dog waste?
The recommended and easiest way to dispose of dog poop is to pick it up with a bag or pooper scooper and dispose of it in the trash.

Do NOT try to compost dog poop in your backyard compost pile. Your pile will not get hot enough to break down the bacteria found in dog poop.

You CAN flush pet waste down the toilet, but we don't recommend it if you have a septic tank. Do not flush any plastic bags if you choose this method.

Check out the City of Columbus' PUP page here for other ideas.
Take the pledge for a FREE gift!
Are you committed now? Take the PUP pledge to receive a FREE dog poop bag dispenser that attaches to a leash. They're handy for practicing PUP.
Does Fido have a license?
Your dog needs to have a dog license - it's the law! State of Ohio law requires all dogs to have a valid dog license. Countless dogs are lost and found each year, and a valid dog license helps Fido get home faster. Get your dog license through your County Auditor's office. Franklin County residents can do it online in just a few minutes.
Question of the Month
How do you keep dog poop out of our waterways?
Bag it and trash it
Flush it
Bury it in the yard
I pay for a company or service to pick it up for me
Other
N/A - I have no dog waste to manage
Get the Scoop from Nature Scoop

Want to learn more about backyard conservation, pollinators, and more? Read the latest edition of the monthly newsletter Nature Scoop by Toni Stahl, National Wildlife Federation Habitat Ambassador.

Nature Scoop August 2023 - How to feed butterflies that don't eat flower nectar; Plant rash tips; Info for our yards and gardens & More!

Learn more at www.backyardhabitat.info and on Twitter @NatureScoopOhio.
Mikaela Mohr
Outreach Program Specialist
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212 
p: 614-486-9613 | e: mmohr@franklinswcd.org

Kori Sedmak
Public Outreach Coordinator
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212 
p: 614-486-9613 | e: ksedmak@franklinswcd.org
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District | (614) 486-9613 | www.franklinswcd.org