PET OWNERS’ HELP NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR LAKES, RIVERS AND WATER RESOURCES

Whether it’s swimming at Lake Andrea or Lake Michigan beach, fishing, kayaking, or wading in the water, local lakes, rivers and waterways provide people in our community with opportunities for recreation and relaxation. When these recreational resources experience high levels of bacteria (such as E. coli and fecal coliform) or other parasites, they become unsafe for people to use, especially children, the elderly, and people who are not in good health.

According to the APPA National Pet Owners Survey, approximately 83.3 million dogs are kept as pets by approximately 56.7 million U.S. households. Dogs produce approximately ten million tons of waste each year. Dog waste harbors bacteria such as E. coli and fecal coliform that is spread through feces.

Studies have show that nearly 40% of dog owners do not clean up after their dog. They instead chose to leave their dog’s waste on lawns, beaches, or in public parks, for a variety of reasons. Storm water (rain, melting snow, even water from watering your lawn) then flows over the surface of the land where the waste was left behind and carries harmful bacteria through the storm water drainage systems to our lakes, beaches and places where we walk, wade, swim, fish or kayak.

Dog waste is by no means the only source that pollutes our natural water ways, but it is a substantial one and one that every pet owner can take individual responsibility for. The Village is asking for all pet owners to follow the rules that are in place to keep us safe from E. coli and fecal coliform found in dog feces. Please...

• Always clean up after your dog, whether at home, in your neighborhood, in a park, or at the local dog park (dogs can get sick from playing in and drinking contaminated water as well).

• Follow the rules (abide by the signs) and do not allow your dog to swim next to or defecate near beaches where people swim and children play in the water.

• Only allow your dog to swim in Lake Andrea at the designated dog swim area, located near the boat landing in the northeast corner of the lake.

• Follow the rules at the dog park inside Ingram Park (abide by the signs) and do not allow your left behind dog waste to make another dog ill.

During summer months, staff collects water samples from Lake Andrea, Lake Michigan, and the fishing pond and dog park pond in Ingram Park. Samples are submitted to a private lab for testing to determine the level of bacterial contamination in the sample. The Village posts the results (and water temperature for swimming beaches) in the News section at PleasantPrairieOnline.com. Results are posted as either safe, advisory or closed.

From time to time, the Village must close a beach or pond due to high levels of bacterial contamination. If we do so, we also post signage at the beach or pond. We sincerely thank all those pet owners who follow the rules that help keep our community a safe and healthy place for people and pets alike.