Pet Waste

Dog Waste Guidelines

Pet ownership comes with many responsibilities, including the responsibility to be considerate of others in your community.  Dog owners should always carry a dog waste bag and always pick up after their pet. Pet waste should be properly disposed of in the household trash.  Neighbors should not be impacted by your failure to pick up after your pet as they don't want to see, step in, or smell pet waste left on the ground.  

Why is it important for the Environment?

Picking up after your pet is not only a courtesy, it is an environmental necessity.  Pet waste that is not picked up can be carried away by rain water into the stormwater system.  The Town's stormwater system drains directly into the waterways and is not treated.  These creeks and streams feed into the Neuse River, which is a source of drinking water for millions of North Carolinians.  Pet waste can deplete oxygen supplies from water which can harm fish and plant life.  Not only that, pet waste can contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites.  High levels of pet waste can cause fecal contamination in recreational waters which can make people sick and require local beaches to close.  

Pet Waste isn't Fertilizer

Some people think leaving their pet's waste is ok since it might act as fertilizer.  Pet waste is actually very acidic and does not help plants and grass grow.  It won't sink into the soil, expecially the hard clay found in North Carolina.  Instead will wash away into our creeks and streams causing harmful algae to grow.