This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Scoop It. Whenever and Wherever

Information cards with facts and tips about how to keep dog wastes out of our waters are now available at the Town Clerk's Office, the Water Treatment Plant, and the Andover Animal Hospital.

Did you know that unscooped dog poop can pollute our local waters? This spring, the Town of Andover has partnered with Greenscapes North Shore to educate its citizens on the importance of picking up after our pets.

Pet waste is raw sewage, and dog waste has twice as much bacteria as human waste. Rain washes these bacteria into the nearest stream, pond or river—untreated.

Information cards with facts and tips about how to keep dog wastes out of our waters are now available at the Town Clerk’s Office (where you can purchase/renew your dog license), the Water Treatment Plant, and the Andover Animal Hospital.

Find out what's happening in Andoverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The message is clear: Scoop the Poop! Whenever and wherever… even in your own yard; even in the woods or remote locations, even in the snow; and even if you have a small dog! Always bring bags and put filled bags in a trash can. Never put dog waste in a recycling bin or a storm drain. Storm drains flow directly into our local waters – they are not connected to the sanitary sewer.  Dog waste thrown in a recycling bin, even if tied in a biodegradable bag, makes the contents unusable for recycling.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?