It's Time to PUP Columbus!
Hey Columbus! It’s time to PUP (Pick Up Poop)! All dog owners can "doo" the right thing and scoop poop in their backyard and when out walking. Our goal is clean water, and PUPing is our law.
Sign our PUP Pledge today!
So, what’s the big stink?
Picking up your dog’s poop is a small act that makes a big impact.
Leaving your dog’s poop on the ground isn’t just gross for your neighbors; it pollutes our ecosystem. When left on the ground, rain can wash dog waste into storm drains that enter directly into our rivers, streams, and lakes. A single gram of dog poop (about the weight of a business card) can contain over 23 million harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella. That’s up to twice as many bacteria as human waste and more than 10 times as many bacteria as cow manure! Woof!
Dog poop is not organic or fertilizer. Due to dogs’ high-protein diets, their waste is highly acidic. In fact, when dog waste is washed into our waterways, its high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fuel toxic algae blooms, which reduce the oxygen levels that fish and other aquatic life need to survive. It's also not great for your lawn.
Untreated stormwater pollution can create concerns for public health, local ecosystems, and the safety of recreational waters, which is why PUPing is our law. Check out our "Frequently Asked Questions" page(PDF, 164KB) for specific city guidelines and ordinances.
Now you may be asking yourselves, “As good neighbors, we all know the importance of picking up our dog’s poop, but what else can we do as dog owners to help minimize our environmental impact?” Luckily for you, you’ve got all the eco-friendly options you need to be the best neighbor and dog owner on your block!
Use compostable poop bags
Traditional plastic poop bags can take hundreds of years to decompose. And while picking up your dogs poop with these bags is still far better than leaving your dog’s poop on the ground, real PUP warriors can use compostable bags to help minimize the environmental impact of their poop bag. Keep in mind – compostable bags still need to go in the trash unless you have access to a specific pet waste compost system.
Participate in municipal pet waste programs
Columbus has set up PUP kiosks offering free poop bags to encourage dog owners to clean up after their pets in many of the parks managed by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. Show your support for these stations by using them and advocating for additional kiosks in areas that would great benefit. If you're aware of any public spaces in Columbus that could use a PUP kiosks, contact us to let us know!
Educate your neighbors about PUP!
Many people mistakenly think that leaving their dog’s poop on the ground is acceptable, believing it will add nutrients to the soil. As we know from our PUP-ucation, that is simply untrue! You can make a difference by spreading PUP's message and educating fellow dog owners about the significance of picking up their dog's waste.
Want to keep showing support for PUP in your community? (or show support of your neighbor finally picking up their dog's poop from your yard?) Email pup@columbus.gov to receive any of the PUP doorhangers or yard signs you see below! Please indicate what design(s) you'd like and the quantity.
Door Hangers:
Yard Signs:
Send up a picture of your dog in our swag or with our tag #PickItUpColumbus for your pup to get featured on our website and socials!