Our Environment
New Dog Waste Stations
Our community has a new amenity added during the month of July 2009 due the initiative of one of our neighbors in Arundel-on-the-Bay.
Good Reasons to Pick Up After Your Dog
Community Pet Waste Station Program:
A How-To Guide by Neighbor Julie Winters
Scooping the Poop for Better Water Quality: Arundel on the Bay's Efforts to Keep Our Waters Clean by Neighbor Julie Winters
Six new pet waste stations, complete with bags to pick up waste and a receptacle to throw away the used bags, have been installed. Our neighbor, Julie Winters, created the pet waste stations as part of her Watershed Steward class. The Capital wrote an article about her initiative. Read it by clicking here.
There are many benefits that come with the use of these new pet waste stations. Pet owners will be more able to pick up and toss waste from their dogs during walks around our scenic neighborhood as a courtesy to everyone. Also it is very important to Scoop The Poop For Better Water Quality!
Please remember, it helps keep the water in the adjacent Chesapeake Bay and Fishing Creek clean if you pick up your pet's waste (both on walks and in your own yards).
Pet waste contains nutrients and bacteria that are dirty and ruin the Bay's water. Rain water can carry pet waste left on the ground to the Bay.
Removal of your pet's waste on public walks, in recreational areas, or on private property other than your own is required by AACO law (Article 12 Sec. 4-909); fines range from $50 and up to $500.
Where are the pet waste stations?
The locations of these stations are highlighted in this map that can also be viewed in a larger size by clicking here.
Good Reasons to Pick Up After Your Dog
Note: All dogs in Oyster Harbor must be on a leash at all times.
At the Jan. 23, 2007, General Meeting, veterinarian and Oyster Harbor resident Dr. Irving W. McConnell, DVM, provided a handout and gave a short talk urging residents to pick up after their dogs for environmental, health, and neighborly reasons. He knows a lot about dogs. Here is a summary of the information he provided, courtesy of the website, The Dog's Best Friend.
Are you a good neighbor dog owner? Do you help to prevent environmental contamination by picking up and properly disposing of your dog's feces? Here are some good reasons to "Pick-Up After Your Dog:"
Removing dog feces prevents reinfestation of your dog from exposure to infective worm eggs and larvae, and dog feces can transmit diseases from your dog to people. Roundworm, hookworm and other parasitic worms may be transmitted to young children and adults who play or work in their yards when dog feces are present. Ocular larva migrans - an eye disease caused by parasitic worms found in dog droppings - can cause serious eye damage to young children.
Clean it up, please! ~~ Animal waste can be a contributor to storm water pollution. It contains disease-carrying bacteria and toxins that can increase the risk of viral infection, flu, and skin rashes for ocean swimmers near storm drain outlets. More than 10 million gallons of water containing fecal contaminants from human and animal sources, flows into neighborhood storm drains every day - even more when it rains.
Take it with you! ~~ Dog feces and urine can result in lawn burn or dead patches. When it's your dog on your neighbor's lawn, it causes a great deal of hostility - toward you and your dog.
Eliminate it! ~~ After a day of baking in the sun, the odor from dog feces can become offensive.
Scoop it! ~~ It can ruin a good pair of shoes.
Grab it! ~~ Parks belong to everyone, not just your dogs. Kids play on the grass and families enjoy picnicking. Dog feces takes the joy out of outdoor activities.
Bag it! ~~ Dog feces are not part of nature on a hiking trail. It's part of your responsibility to pack it out.
Don't leave it behind! ~~ There are dog waste bag stations on Shore Drive and at Fishing Creek Marina Park. Please use them.
Oyster Harbor Citizens Association