SANTA CLARITA, Calif., March 26, 2009 — The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (aPaws) was founded in February 2002 by a group of pooper scoopers who believe every dog should have its day. In recognition of a growing problem in our communities, environment and water tables, aPaws has established a special week of educating pet owners on the importance of cleaning up after their dogs.
Dog waste is no joke! The American Pet Association estimates that this country's seventy-one million pet dogs produce over 4.4 billion pounds of waste per year. That's enough to cover 900 football fields with 12 inches of dog waste! Dog feces are more than just a nuisance – pet waste can pose a serious health hazard. Why? A number of common parasites, including roundworm, are transmitted via dog feces. When infected dog droppings are left on the ground, the eggs of the roundworms and other parasites can linger in the soil for years. As a result, anyone who comes in contact with the soil also comes in contact with the infected eggs.
Children run the greatest risk of infection because they're prone to play in the dirt at the park or playground and then put their hands in their mouths or rub their eyes with their hands. But even a group of teens or adults playing Frisbee or touch football in an open area could be in danger. Parasitic infections can make humans extremely sick, and for pregnant women can pose serious harm to their unborn child.
If you can't pick up the dog waste yourself then please hire a professional pooper scooper to do it for you! For more information or to find an aPaws member professional pooper scooper near you, please visit http://www.apaws.org and use our convenient Find-A-Scooper Directory.
Contact:
Cheresee Rehart
President – aPaws
813-657-9797
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