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[MUSIC]

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Joan Cartan-Hansen, Host: Pet 
poop is a problem unlike human

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waste, pet poop isn't usually 
treated.

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It's just tossed in the trash.

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How much poop?

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Well, America has an estimated 
83 million pet dogs that produce

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ten point six million tons of 
poop each year.

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They estimate we have about 96 
million cats that produce 5

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point three tons of poop each 
year.

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Dog and cat poop can have 
viruses, parasites and harmful

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pathogens like e coli, giardia 
and salmonella.

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The U.S. environmental 
protection agency says

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all it take is two or three 
days of poop from 100 dogs to

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close 20 miles of watershed.

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The animal poop leaves too much 
bacteria, nitrogen and

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phosphorous to make it safe for 
swimming.

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So be sure to pick up any dog 
poop and put it in the trash.

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Cat poop needs to be disposed of 
properly too.

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By the way, my pet rabbit Smokey 
poops about a tenth of a pound

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per day.

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But because he is a vegetarian, 
his poop can be composted.

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For more information about 
sewage, check out the science

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trek website.

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You'll find it at science trek 
dot org