Local cities are starting a new PR campaign to step up education on the issue of pet wastes, part of a State program to wipe up bacterial pollution in storm water run-off.
Targeting priority water pollution sources, participating communities kicked off “SLO Scoops Poop” — a county-wide campaign “to protect public health, our local waterways, and our beautiful central coast landscape,” according to a press release from the City of Morro Bay.
In accordance with state regulations, the release reads, each participating community will be promoting a pilot program to address water quality impacts related to pet waste.
According to the press release, the pilot program will educate the public, and “identify social and physical barriers that prevent a desired behavior or activity, provide educational prompts to elicit a desired behavior, and provide incentives for the desired behavior.” It’s assumed that a rolled up newspaper won’t be part of the behavior modification.
“Our mission is simple,” reads the release, “to get dog owners to pick up after their dogs every stinkin’ time! Every time you’re walking your dogs on trails, through local parks, or your neighborhoods remember to pick up your dog’s poop and dispose of it properly. This also includes accumulated dog poop in your yards.”
It continues, “When dog and other pet waste is left on the ground, not only is it smelly and unsightly, but it poses a health risk for other animals and people.
“In addition, unattended [“orphan”] poop during rains can contribute harmful bacteria [giardia, roundworm, viruses, and other parasites] to our local waterways.
“No one wants to swim in waterways that are polluted with harmful bacteria, especially fish and other aquatic life. ‘SLO Scoops Poop’ has selected eight different project locations in each participating community.” The project locations are mapped at: www.SLOscoopspoop.com.
Bureaucrats have apparently been tracking these orphan poop piles. “Each of the designated locations has either a pink or checkered flag that identify and represent the number of orphan poops that have the ability to impact public health and our local waterways. In addition, each of the eight designated project locations contains a unique treasure container — “canine cache.”
Of course there’s a poop project tracker website, see: www.SLOscoopspoop.com to find GPS coordinates and hints to find a cool pooch prize.
Partners in the program include: the cities of Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Atascadero, SLO and Grover Beach, SLO and Santa Barbara counties, Santa Maria, Los Osos and Templeton CSDs, Cal Poly, and Caltrans, according to the website.
Their motto is: “Remember: Poop Pollutes, so… Scoop the Poop, Every Stinkin’ Time!!!”
