Heavy doody headache

Photo: TaskeZ

Dogs must answer the call of nature. And when you add up all the poop from all the dogs in Kelowna, you get a whole lot of doo-doo.

But how much is left behind by owners who don't pick up after their pets?

According to the City of Kelowna, about 38 per cent of Kelowna residents own dogs, and given there are about 120,000 residents in Kelowna, that puts the number at about 45,000.

But, the Regional District of Central Okanagan says there are approximately 36,000 dogs in the RDCO, 22,000 of which are registered.

For the sake of argument, let's say there are 40,000 dogs in the Central Okanagan.

The average doggy deposit is said to weigh 0.17 of a kilogram, and the average dog does so twice a day.

Over the course of a year, that equals 5,000,000 kg of poop – or 5,000 tonnes.

That equals the weight of a decommissioned Royal Navy Trafalgar-class submarine each year.

While most dog owners are responsible and pick up after Fido, many do not.

If you believe a claim that states 40 per cent of dog owners don't pick, that's more than 2,000 tonnes of canine calling cards left to ruin your day. (Note: numbers are a best guess based on statistics provided)

Both the city and RDCO are fed up with the party poopers.

“It's not that this year is any better or worse than a typical year, but we do get quite a few calls and concerns from people about dog feces and owners not picking up,” says city park services manager Ian Wilson.

“Every year, it is a problem. When we did our survey for dog parks, we asked people why they don't use dog parks, and the main reasons were dogs that are not well behaved and the mess, owners not picking up.”

“We've taken steps in the last number of years to promote responsible dog ownership, and most people are responsible," adds RDCO communications officer Bruce Smith. "Unfortunately, the ones that don't tar all owners with a bad brush.”

Smith says bylaw officers have written 15 warning tickets in 2016 and given just one fine for failing to poop and scoop.

Wilson and Smith say the waste can cause problems.

“There have been studies done, especially in the States, where they look at the impact on a watershed basis and they show it can be quite significant. If you look at the amount of dog feces that can eventually wash into the storm sewers and into the creeks and into the watershed, it can be significant. If you multiply it by the thousands of dogs, it can add up,” says Wilson.

“Dog feces can be a health hazard,” Smith adds. “It only takes a few dog owners not picking up in public places to negatively reflect on all dog owners. As well, please don’t leave your bagged poop beside park trails or sidewalks or hanging in a bush. That’s just doing half the job. Please drop it in the nearest garbage can or take it home and properly dispose of it there.”

In a recent Castanet poll, 71 per cent of respondents felt the RDCO is not doing enough to enforce poop-and-scoop bylaws. 

Dog owners can face warnings and fines if they are caught leaving behind Fido's feces.