Pacific Shellfish Institute
Shellfish Research & Services for the U.S. West Coast
Click on any of the above images to open high-quality PDF copies of the educational materials.
Contact PSI to have brochures, an outdoor sign &/or promotional stickers mailed to you.
Promoting Pet Waste Education –
a “one-size-fits all” approach
Purpose:
The primary goal of this project was to fill an existing need for generic pet waste education materials similar to those developed through our Scoopy Doo! Pet Waste Education Campaign, which is specific to Thurston County. The overarching goal of both education campaigns is to increase public knowledge of the impacts of pet waste on bacterial pollution in Puget Sound and to encourage responsible disposal practices among pet owners. This projects cover a high priority 2015 goal for aquaculture training, education and outreach.
Results:
PSI staff designed and produced a new brochure, titled "Pet Waste: What's the Problem" (485 kb PDF) to concisely but accurately outline the impact of pet waste on aquatic environments. The brochure both explains how to safely dispose of pet waste, but also explains the ecological processes that can be impacted by pet waste when it enters lakes, streams and/or the marine environment. In addition to the brochure, outdoor signage concisely explaining the environmental and human health benefits of proper pet waste disposal was also produced. The brochures, outdoor signage and "Doo it!" stickers are available at no cost. Simply contact PSI and request these materials. Mailing costs are also covered, so we invite groups or individuals to obtain these materials from PSI and use them to spread awareness about improving watershed health through proper pet waste disposal.
Background:
Cleaning up pet waste is a simple solution to improving watershed health. Awareness of responsible management of pet waste has increased over the past decade, but maintaining that awareness is critical to healthy communities and recreation areas, especially shorelines. Pathogen pollution can seriously affect shellfish harvest and restrict recreational activities such as swimming. Similarly, playing in open spaces where pet waste is present puts humans at risk of contracting hookworms, roundworms, salmonella, E. coli and even Giardia. In the Puget Sound region, human and animal wastes are the source of most pathogens (Puget Sound Action Team “State of the Sound 2007”.) Priority C of the 2008 Puget Sound Partnership’s Action Agenda identifies education as an important tactic to reduce the sources of water pollution prior to entry into Puget Sound.
Despite efforts mainly on the county and city level, there are numerous areas in Washington State that would benefit from posting reminders to clean up pet waste. Washington State Parks located on Puget Sound have provided pet waste bags since 2001, but there are still hundreds of parks, trails, lakes, boat launches, marinas and duck hunting areas that could be used to raise awareness about pet waste and limit pathogen introduction. Since 2004, PSI has managed a pet waste education campaign, and we have received an overwhelmingly positive response. Our “Scoopy Doo” dog mascot, originally purchased through a Partners in Education grant from the Puget Sound Action Team, has been in increasing demand.
Through PSI’s management of Thurston County’s pet waste program we have familiarized ourselves with other pet waste campaigns across the country and we have developed good working relationships with staff at most western-Washington counties’ water quality and natural resource departments. It is this awareness of other pet waste campaigns and interaction with county staff that lead us to realize the need for “one-size-fits all” educational materials. Although the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services developed a superb manual: "The Inside Scoop: How to Conduct a Pet Waste Outreach Campaign," PSI has noticed that demand for pet waste education materials is often outside organizations or user groups that could effectively develop their own pet waste campaign. For example, in December 2008 a Lake Cushman resident contacted PSI through a form on our website:
“I'm impressed with your brochure on pet waste disposal. Do you know of any similar publications that would be aimed more at lakes? I live on Lake Cushman, and we've been trying for years to get our Maintenance Company to start an education campaign on keeping our lakes & parks in the area clean & pollution free. I would appreciate any assistance you might be able to offer.”
PSI’s existing pet waste education brochures and posters focused on a local Thurston County watershed, but we were constantly asked for a generic version of our materials from individuals, other public agencies, school groups, advocacy groups and environmental organizations. We recognized that by posting signage and distributing brochures, we will raise awareness about pet waste and effectively improve the health of Washington’s watersheds.
Project Partners:
- The Russell Family Foundation