[MUSIC]

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

waste, pet poop isn't usually
treated.

It's just tossed in the trash.

How much poop?

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

ten point six million tons of
poop each year.

They estimate we have about 96
million cats that produce 5

point three tons of poop each
year.

Dog and cat poop can have
viruses, parasites and harmful

pathogens like e coli, giardia
and salmonella.

The U.S. environmental
protection agency says

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

close 20 miles of watershed.

The animal poop leaves too much
bacteria, nitrogen and

phosphorous to make it safe for
swimming.

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

Cat poop needs to be disposed of
properly too.

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

per day.

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

For more information about
sewage, check out the science

trek website.

You'll find it at science trek
dot org