We placed our sticker on a plastic bag dispenser
that can be used to pick up animal fecal waste creating a primary prevention
tool. This dispenser is located along the sidewalk in the parking lot of an
apartment complex and can be found throughout many public recreational areas.
The bags found in public recreational areas are provided by the Pinellas County
Solid Waste Management, but ours was provided by the property management
personnel as an easy and convenient way for pet owners to behave responsibly
and keep the general public’s environment sanitary and free of possible
zoonotic agents. The constant accessibility to the proper tools greatly reduces
health hazards that arise out of fecal matter contamination of both ground
cover and water runoff. Failure to pick up after one’s pet creates the risks of
contamination of the neighborhood’s water bodies or supplies which in turn will
affect the whole neighborhood’s health and safety. Furthermore, fecal matter will
attract flies which further increase the risk of zoonotic diseases’
communicability. In a worst case scenario if one of the residents were to pick up a highly communicable infection such as Cryptosporosis because of the infected fecal material being in the environment. He or she can then possibly transfer the infection to his/her colleagues in school or the workplace through improper hygiene, creating the possibility of causing an endemic within the community. But on a more likely scale the animal’s fecal matter could contain hookworms a common infection in animals and if a child were to step on the fecal material with an open lesion the child could become very sick possibly needing hospitalization. The presence of this simple tool can then greatly influence public health in that it promotes the prevention of disease and aims to maintain the good health of everyone in the community by keeping one source of infectious diseases under control.
communicability. In a worst case scenario if one of the residents were to pick up a highly communicable infection such as Cryptosporosis because of the infected fecal material being in the environment. He or she can then possibly transfer the infection to his/her colleagues in school or the workplace through improper hygiene, creating the possibility of causing an endemic within the community. But on a more likely scale the animal’s fecal matter could contain hookworms a common infection in animals and if a child were to step on the fecal material with an open lesion the child could become very sick possibly needing hospitalization. The presence of this simple tool can then greatly influence public health in that it promotes the prevention of disease and aims to maintain the good health of everyone in the community by keeping one source of infectious diseases under control.
Group Members (left to right): Nalvi Duro, Kyle Olle, Jason Drizd
I have seen these doggie bags at a number of places and I think it is a great attempt in controlling the fecal matter in the environment. My apartment does not have these dispensers and I find it very irritating when I see dog feces where my daughter plays! I've been to our office to let it be known, yet they have done nothing. Now that you all have provided me with some sufficient evidence that it could potentially be very harmful for a number of individuals, especially kids, I may go back and provide a substantial argument!
ReplyDeleteI have also seen these doggie bag and disposal stations at many public places and I think it is such a great idea. People are now more than ever bringing their pets with them everywhere they go so it is important to be responsible for what your animal does. These stations not only provide a bag to pick up your dogs fecal matter but also provide a healthy way to dispose of them in the trashcan. I have seen people pick their animals fecal matter up in a bag and then throw it down the sewer because they don’t want to carry it, but these stations promote a safe way of disposing it. These stations are a great example of public health and now whenever I see them I will think back to this article and public health!
DeleteThis blog is fantastic I like it because it is very informative and detailed. When I first started walking my dog I would let him go in the grass and never had a second thought about picking it up because I figured it would breakdown and help fertilize the grass. A couple of days later there were flies all around and a terrible smell soon after my mother told me that doggy bags were available. I think that more dispensers should be placed around the neighborhood and residential areas. I never thought something as simple as picking up my dogs waste could help the environment.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great public health spot! So many people now have animals and they naturally need a place to go, this helps keep parks and apartment complexes clean and safer to walk around at. If someone steps on pet feces, they can track it into their house until they notice it's there, this could in turn be given to a small child who is likely to pick up an infection as a result. Small efforts to keep our community and loved ones safe should absolutely be taken, especially when it's as simple as a little plastic bag to pick up their droppings. I love how informative this article is, it helps others understand the severity of what happens when these measures aren't taken properly.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad to see that they have these doggie bags here too. I had first seen them back home in Miami, but I never saw them anywhere else. No one wants to step in a pile of poop so this is a great way for pet owners to clean up after their pets. They should definitely have more of these around and make it mandatory that pet owners utilize them.
ReplyDelete