If Alli Harvey’s “Alaskans, get a grip on your dogs” column is her most unpopular of all time, then kudos to her! This is far from the first time that issues, such as poop left on trails, loose dogs not under voice control and continual barking, have been brought up on a variety of forums. I love dogs, own three, and second her admonishments.
I’ll put aside my personal experiences with loose dogs and barking, and harp on the poop problem, which is especially obnoxious at this time of year.
The Anchorage Waterways Council (AWC) is tasked with trying to get pet owners to scoop their dogs’ poop. Why? If you haven’t noticed, it’s unsightly. It’s also maddening to step in and track it into your car or house. Third, it infects local creeks and lakes with bacteria and a whole host of other deleterious organisms including worms, parasites and viruses. While this doesn’t appear to be a problem when local waterways are frozen, during breakup and all through summer and fall, these pathogens are carried into local creeks and lakes where people are wading, swimming, kayaking, tubing and fishing. Humans and dogs can and have become quite ill from contact with “impaired” water, an EPA category for fresh water that does not meet state and federal health and safety standards. Did you know that Anchorage’s popular waterways, such as Ship, Chester, Campbell, Little Campbell, Fish, Furrow, and Rabbit creeks, as well as University Lake, Campbell Lake and Westchester Lagoon, are all considered “impaired?” Consider that next time you’re enjoying them.
One of AWC’s goals is to remove these waters from their “impaired” status, and we need your help. It starts with every pet owner making sure that they clean up after their dogs on trails, in dog parks, neighborhoods, and in their yards. The estimated number of dogs in Anchorage is 65,000, pooping an average of three-quarters of a pound per day, which adds up to more than 45,000 lbs. Twenty-two tons, every day. Your participation makes a huge difference, so please scoop the poop. There are so many benefits.
— Cherie Northon
Anchorage Waterways Council
Anchorage
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