Public Health Doesn't Just Apply to People
We placed our "This is Public Health" sticker on a public sign in the Temple Terrace community. The sign was placed by the area's Park and Recreation Department, under City Code #4.425.5. This location was chosen because its is both adjacent to the university and to local businesses - where students, faculties, and the general public can see the sign and be better informed about the local population's health interest, and the laws in place to protect them! The area is also home to a number of dogs and dog owners. The sign, "Please pick up after your dog", reminds or obliges dog owners to properly dispose of their pet's organic waste by picking it up and throwing it away in proper waste receptacles. This public reminder promotes the area's cleanliness and orderliness. By picking up our pet's organic waste we are reducing water and soil pollution and as well as preserving the beauty of the community and preventing the spread of disease through animal wastes. Without this precaution, fecal matter could serve as a contaminant, and perhaps be picked up by another animal or child living in the area, or perhaps end up in the river located a few hundred feet behind where the picture was taken. Plus, the area gets a lot of traffic from pedestrians (kids on their way home from school), runners, bikers, and skateboarders, none of whom want to see, smell, or step in dog waste. It is important to remind people that the community is everyone's property, and that everyone has the right to a clean and safe environment.
I really like your “This is Public Health” blog. Not only is stepping in dog waste gross and a huge inconvenience; cleaning up after animal waste prevents the spread of disease. People forget that animals naturally carry bacteria in their intestines that can be very harmful to humans. This was a really great idea, hats off to the person in your group who thought of it.
ReplyDeleteI love your creative post. Usually when someone thinks of public health, they assume it only applies to humans. I feel like every place needs a sign like this one because some people let their dogs out anywhere that there's grass. I also like how you brought up the fact that children can pick up the feces. That is very dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI love your choice of location. It's definitely true that everyone has a right to a clean and safe environment. I personally can't stand it when people don't clean up after their dogs while walking them. Especially if it's on my personal property. Having fecal matter just sitting around is so dangerous, especially when there is children in the area. They could get diseases or worms if they were to get in contact with it. Or if you were to clean the stuff off of your shoe, you're exposed to getting any germs or bacteria that it may be contaminated with. That sign is most definitely an excellent example of public health
ReplyDeleteAs the owner of a pet, you never want to pick up after your dog because it is disgusting. Unfortunately, it is one of the responsibilities of owning that pet. Nobody wants to step in dog poop and get it on their shoe. Not only is it make the planet look like more of a dump, it can transmit many diseases if it gets in out water system. This was a great post to promote public health to the population!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I really liked this blog post because unlike the other posts it pertained not only people as stated, but animals as well. I couldn't agree more about the safety concerns for young children walking home from school and stepping in the bacteria. Embarrassingly enough I was once that kid that had an unlucky run in with dog doo on the way home from school. Furthermore, as a dog owner myself, I definitely wouldn't want my pup to be exposed to anything that would threaten their health on one of our walks around the neighborhood. If you don't want to clean it up, you don't need a dog.
ReplyDelete