WE'RE #1! WE'RE #1! http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2006/05/01/daily50.html?t=printable Houston has gone to the dogs, according to a new survey ranking America's major offenders on dog owners scooping their pooches' poop. Atop the survey conducted by animal health company Merial Ltd. is the Bayou City as the nation's worst offender when it comes to pet-owning residents being responsible for scooping up after their dogs. The survey ranks the top 15 markets, from least to most responsible, based on an analysis of both dog-owning and non-dog owning residents' -- 350 total respondents per market. The participants were asked their perceptions regarding the degree to which dog-owning residents pick up after their dogs. San Francisco scored the highest marks, ranking 15th on the list. In addition, a national survey of 500 dog owners and 500 non-dog owners found: •Both dog owners and non-dog owners alike perceive New Yorkers as having the most responsible dog owners when it comes to picking up after their pets, with 30 percent of respondents saying they think New Yorkers are very responsible. On the other hand, 44 percent voted Detroit residents as the least responsible for cleaning up after their pets. •Nearly 38 percent of dog owners surveyed said they never scoop up after their pets, an increase of 8 percent from 2005. •Ninety-one percent of pet owners allow their dogs to "take care of business" in their own yards. However, one-third of that group report they sometimes or never clean up after their dogs in their own yard. Neglecting to remove dog waste increases health threats at parks, playgrounds and even backyards. Parasites, like hookworms and roundworms, may be found in animal waste and may be transmitted to other dogs and to people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 10,000 cases of roundworm infection annually, more than the widely-reported West Nile Virus.
Dog owners need to learn how to teach their dogs to sh*t in boxes, like the good Lord intended. Then the owners need to contact their local clown birthday balloon delivery service.....
It'd seem to me that the city landscape has a lot to do with it. Densely populated cities like New York or San Francisco (but not Paris) would have more diligent dog-owners because there's less leeway for being lazy. Houston is the paradigm of urban sprawl, so dog **** is less problematic and less noticeable when it occurs.
Anyone remember the white dog poo that used to be in people's yards? Where did it all go? My friend has a theory that includes aliens but I don't remember what it was.
