For city residents with dogs, finding a way to keep their dog and please their neighbor can be difficult.

Landlords don’t like the carpet stains, odor, scratches on doors, walls and windows and the possibility of incidents between tenants.

Neighbors hate the excessive barking, messes on the sidewalks and the possibility of being cornered by an unleashed escapee.

It’s tough living in the city and being a dog owner. It’s even tougher for the dog.

Last Friday, Radio Boston dedicated their show to the topic of dogs and the city. Experts and listeners debated about whether dogs should be living in the city, if there was available space and what dictates responsible owner-dog behavior.

You can listen to the full show here: http://www.radioboston.org/shows/2009/08/08/is-boston-going-to-the-dogs/

There were a couple of key points discussed during the hour that bear repeating.

• Owning a dog and living in the city does not become an issue until a dog starts causing trouble.

• Different stimuli exist between cities, suburbs and rural areas. Give a dog time to adjust to the noise, traffic and people.

• Some non-dog owners complain about the taxes they incur to pay for public dog-parks and off-leash hours.

• Statistics show a reduction in crime rates in areas where dogs are allowed and allotted time for off-leash activity. Human traffic of any kind decreases the risk that crime will occur, and many people consider their dog a form of security.

These are great things to consider when discussing if city life is conducive to a dog owner, but none of it matters if dog owners don’t act responsibly.

Cleaning up after dogs and keeping dogs on a leash, two things we know a lot about at Rascodog, are two of the biggest reasons why non-dog owners don’t like dogs! If people didn’t have to worry about stepping in poop when they walked down the sidewalk, they would probably be a lot more receptive to the idea of their neighbor the dog lover.

Dogs that bark frequently can also create tension between neighbors. The best way to deal with this problem is to make sure the dog has plenty of exercise. Remember that a tired dog is a happy dog. If a dog is properly trained and exercised regularly the chances of the dog causing trouble lessens. If you really want a dog but know you don’t have the time for intense exercise, consider adopting a senior dog. Their temperament is calmer than that of a puppy and their exercise needs considerably less rigorous.

Just because you don’t own a dog doesn’t mean you should be exempt from providing space for those who do have dogs as pets. Another way of looking at this is paying taxes for public schooling. Many dog owners have dogs instead of kids, but their taxes go towards funding public school programs. There should be give and take on both sides.

Now it’s poll time: [polldaddy poll="1868084"]

Check out these great blogs for resources and stories on how to choose an appropriate dog for apartment life (and things that might happens if you do…)

Dogs and Apartments

What Are Good Dog Breeds For People Who Live in Apartments?

Pet Source USA

Rescuer could loser her apartment

He Walked His Dogs All the Time

Sunday afternoon I found an article from the San Diego Union Tribune Online discussing the recent trend of homeowners replacing their lawns with artificial turf. Certainly there is concern about the environmental issues involved. But as I was reading the article what disturbed me was a tiny little line at the end of one paragraph listing the benefits of artificial turf: Pet waste can be scooped up or rinsed away.

Most people read right through this sentence without blinking, but it stopped me dead in my tracks.

Under no circumstances should you EVER wash pet waste into the street. This goes for both cats and dogs.

Storm sewers drain directly into lakes, streams and nearby oceans. When the waste hits water it decays, using up oxygen and releasing ammonia (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). Especially in the spring and summer when water temperatures are warm this leads to the death of fish.

And the fish and shellfish that do survive… they’re probably carrying a disease from waste contamination. Now ask yourself how often you like to chow down on “fresh” seafood.

The trend of artificial grass has grown out of severe drought conditions in the West. However, there are plenty of healthier and natural options out there for people who still want that beautiful lawn.

Organic lawn care is one such option, but there are others. The Unleashed Pet Shop blog recently wrote a post on some great resources to help you get going with safe lawn care practices for people with pets.  And Raise a Green Dog is always a good source for tips on the best environmental practices for you and your dog.

So bottom line: Please Remember to Scoop the Poop! 

Nina

It’s a universal experience so unpleasant that it is often acknowledged via shouts of various four-letter words.

It happens when you least expect it. On your way to an important career-defining meeting, during a leisurely stroll in the park, or, in accordance with Murphy’s Law, after long hours of preparation involving curling irons and brand new designer shoes.

Dog Poop. Crap. Poo-Poo. “It” prefaced with “sh.” Feces. Waste. Excrement.

Call it what you like, but dog poop is a fact that you’re guaranteed to see proof of during your lifetime. City to country, whether you own a dog or not- the poop will find your shoes and maybe more (yikes!)

Sh*! and runs have become particular problems in the cities, and as a result state governments are increasing pet waste pollution fines.

Recently, our friends at dogchatter.com also blogged about this growing problem. Among their list of reasons why you should pick up after your dog was that dog poop contains fecal coliform bacteria that can make you sick.

I started to wonder if people were aware of the effects of letting your dog loose on city sidewalks. For such a health conscious society rarely do people discuss health effects of irresponsible dog owners.

Think about this:

-Dog poop is one of the leading causes of E. Coli pollution: each gram of dog poop has over 20,000,000 E. Coli colonies in it.

-3.6 billion pounds of dog waste/year is produced in the United States alone, equaling 800 football fields, one foot high.

-A dog or cat can obtain various different parasites, viruses and stages of bacteria from their own poop. How confident are you that your neighbor’s dog has been dewormed? Do you know what worms your dog is protected against?

-Storm water carries pet waste and other pollutants directly into waterways.

At Rascodog we believe in responsible owner behavior. Your dog isn’t going to pick up after himself after all!

Here are some simple things you can do to keep your pets healthy and save a chunk of change:

Put a friendly message on the bulletin board at the local dog park to remind pet owners to clean up after their dogs.

Make sure you have appropriate dog walking gear with you and your dog at all times! Rascodog’s ReadyLeash makes this easy with biodegradable bags built-in to the leash handle.

Have a neighborhood clean up and start fresh!

Peer Pressure (as suggested by SmartDogs): Politely remind someone to pick up after their dog if you see them walking away… you can even offer them an extra bag!

Become your communtites own “poop police”… although I wouldn’t reccommend picking it up with your bare hands like this guy from Florida: Poop Policeman 

What are some other things you can do? Leave us a comment below and we’ll include your tips in the list above!

For more information about some canine parasitic conditions check out PetMD.