CEDAR RAPIDS (KWWL) -
Brittany Meyer has had her dog since she was a kid. For ten years, she's been cleaning up after her pooch.
"It's just a responsibility you must have if you adopt a dog or buy a dog from a breeder, you basically just do it," she said.
But in Cedar Rapids, city officials learned that not all pet owners were picking up behind their dogs and it was polluting the water with E. coli.
Starting in May Public Works Maintenance Manager Craig Hanson helped lead a "Pick Up the Poo" pledge to encourage dogs owners to clean up.
"It can go into the streams and it can contaminate downstream water from a drink ability point of view.," said Hanson.
Hanson says that while you should always clean up after you pup, it's especially important during times of drought like this summer.
"That minimal amount of material going into a stream will then oxinate the water faster and because it's not being diluted will have a greater effect and decrease the amount of oxygen for the fish and other aquatic life," said Hanson.
The survey attached to the pledge showed the top reasons why dog owners didn't scoop the poop.
- They didn't want to be bothered by it.
- It was gross.
- 3. Why would you ever do it?
Not all dog owners agree.
"I think it's terrible," said Barbara Blair. "I think it's the responsibility that you have to clean up after your dog."
"Dogs make messes, or pets in general make messes and so you clean it up," said Jeff Eockendorf.
All Cedar Rapids residents who signed the pledge were entered into a raffle.
Tomorrow morning the winner, Joy Cummings, will receive a $50 gift card to a local pet store.
