Does Dog Poop Need To Be Cleaned Up?

Authored by Wave Pros Pet Waste Solutions Staff, Salisbury, Maryland

Pet Waste Removal, Dog Poop Scooping, Pet Care, Pooper Scooping

August, 2025

Cutting the grass is considered (by some) to be a relaxing, satisfying job around the house. To watch your yard go from unkept one minute to neat and trim the next is always worth the work. The same goes with scooping dog waste, those leftovers which dog owners choose to put up with. After all, being woken up by your furry friend's wet kisses can be a great way to start the day!

And just as rain makes a yard greener and grow healthier, so the rain melts away dog waste from the yard, making it a welcome site to any dog owner (except for wet-dog smell!). 

But wait. Is that actually what is going on? Is rain actually  the miracle cure for dog waste? 

Maybe it's not the miracle we may have thought it was. Maybe there is a question which dog owners don't want to say out loud but undoubtedly ask at one point or another. 

Does dog poop have to be cleaned up?

Let's tackle some tough-to-answer questions.

•  First, what exactly is dog waste (poop, for the sake of our conversation) made of? 

• Second, is dog waste dangerous? 

• Next, what does the rain do to dog waste?

• Finally, does dog poop have to be cleaned up?

What exactly is dog waste made of?

According to a 2024 article by Barx Parx, parasites, undigested food,  fiber, bacteria, and water all make up your average load of dog waste. Such a list is not too scary to read. After all, human waste probably contains the same things, right (although that's still gross)?

Not so fast. According to a journal article by several authors in Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, "dog feces are a known source of... pathogen... pollution that can harm human and ecosystem health." Dog feces are known to contain "excess nutrients," possibly a reference to the foods commonly fed to many pets daily.

Indeed, a 2011 article by the USDA claims "dog waste contains nitrogen and phosphorus...." and "is also considered a significant source of pathogens like fecal coliform, a disease-causing bacteria."

So then, now we understand what a dog's waste is made up of (at least, knowledge enough for not being dog-waste scientists). 

Which takes us to our next question.

Is dog waste dangerous?

According to the same article found in Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, "the most common... pathogens found in dog feces are Salmnoella spp., Campylobacter spp., canine hookworm... and Toxocara spp. roundworm...." Additionally, "pathogenic strains" of E. coli may inhabit dog waste as well. 

But of particular note is the following; "infected dogs can shed pathogens without showing clinical signs of disease." In other words, a dog owner's gut-reaction to whether their dog has a disease that spreads through feces may not always be 100% accurate. 

Should you handle dog waste with your bare hands? The American Kennel Club, in one of its articles by author Stephanie Gibeault, MSc, CPDT,  states in reference to handling dog waste, "keep your hands covered whether it’s with a bag or rubber gloves and thoroughly wash your hands when the task is done. You can also use a pooper scooper device or a rake and shovel, but don’t use the same garden tools for fruit or vegetable gardening if you intend to eat the produce." 

This reference to care and consideration around handling food should make the dog owner consider; if you shouldn't handle your food after handling dog waste, then perhaps dog waste is something to be careful around. 

If your still hanging on reading our article, thank you! It's great to have considerate dog owners. We have two more questions to answer, so buckle up!

What does the rain do to dog waste?

According to the same article from USDA, "Dog waste that isn’t cleaned up isn’t just a hazard for the bottom of your shoes—it is also a cause of pollution in creeks, rivers and lakes across the country. Dog waste contains nitrogen and phosphorus, which can deplete oxygen that fish and other water-based life need to survive, as well as encourage the growth of harmful algae." Rain water dissolves the waste into smaller components, making them all the easier to transport via running water. 

Sure, the pieces may be gone from your yard, but rain does not necessarily eliminate the threat of disease and pathogen from the greater environment. 

Which leads us to our final question. 

Does dog waste have to be picked up?

We will answer that in two ways. 

First, no you don't have to. Unless legally required in your area (which may be the case), it is likely that you will not receive any penalty (except perhaps a public shaming from friends and family) for not cleaning up your dog's waste. Your dog has to answer nature's call, and the authorities have greater threats to the public good to be concerned with than making sure all pet owners clean up after their pets. 

Second, no, you still don't have to. But consider, like in all other areas, the effects which your choices have. 

Consider how a toddler, not so careful to watch out for their health, may be tempted to handle the waste leftover by Fido as they scamper throughout your backyard. Animals including neighboring pets and friend's dogs will have the possibility of cross-contaminating with your dog's feces, increasing the possibility of spreading canine-disease. 

There is also the very-real consideration of yard appearances, smell, and usability of a dog-bomb infested yard. Not to mention the lack of cleanliness and pride which comes from leaving dog leftovers on the ground. 

So with all that being said, what is the Wave Pros-take on the question, does dog poop have to be cleaned up? Although we aren't scientists (and neither are you, probably 😁), our answer is: 

Make sure to cleanup after your pet. Every time. At home, and in public. 

All non-Wave Pros-branded images courtesy of Pixabay.

References: 

Emily Bryson, Amie Anastasi, Lisa Bricknell, Ryan Kift, Household dog fecal composting: Current issues and future directions, Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Volume 20, Issue 6, 1 November 2024, Pages 1876–1891, https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4970 

Overstreet Maxwell, Amy, and Sabrenna Bryant. “Pet Waste Disposal Systems Help Protect Water Quality.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mar. 2011, www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/pet-waste-disposal-systems-help-protect-water-quality.

“The Scoop on Dog Poop: Unveiling the Fascinating World of Canine Waste - Barx Parx.” Barx Parx, 9 Apr. 2024, barxparx.com/the-scoop-on-dog-poop-unveiling-the-fascinating-world-of-canine-waste/.

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