Hidden Oak Estates takes great pride in providing well maintained, pet friendly, and quiet neighborhood and park area’s to enjoy and live. However recently we have noticed an increase of dog waste left in our the common spaces.
Dog waste is pretty gross, but it doesn’t really just go away on its own, and it most definitely is not a fertilizer. The EPA has classified dog waste as a dangerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals and oil; not really a great thing to have flowing into our storm drains.
It might not seem like a stormwater problem, but animal waste is one of the many seemingly small sources of pollution that can add up to big problems for water quality. The waste can carry viruses, bacteria, and parasites. When pet waste is left on the lawn or on the side of the street it can come into contact with other pets and potentially get them sick. Additionally, it can be washed away by rain water into storm drains where it ends up in our streams and lakes.
Hidden Oak Estates storm drains flow into our retention ponds, and then to our beautiful West Lake.
The waste from dogs contains more nitrogen than that of pigs and cows. That nitrogen leaching into the water promotes algae growth which can turn the water green and make it smell.
Pathogens such as salmonella and E. coli from the pet waste can cause illness in people who come into contact with the contaminated water sources.
It’s also against Seminole Country law;
Section 20.18 (URINATING & DEFECATING)
It shall be unlawful for any animal owner to permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care and control, any animal to soil, defile, urinate or defecate on any private or public property, other than that of the owner, without expressed or implied consent.
Doo Good
Do your part to help keep our pet friends healthy, and our water ways clean. Pick it up, throw it out.
You will find Mutt Mitt posts with free bags at the Front Entrance by the shrubbery wall near the West Lake park, and at the Back of the neighborhood near stop sign on Bucksaw near Cross Cut, next to the retention pond.