Keep Our Neighborhoods and Streams Clean with Your Dog

You and your dog can make a positive difference in keeping local neighborhoods and streams clean!

How You Can Help

It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

Always pick up after your pet:

• See it: Spot the pet waste.
• Scoop it: Use a bag to pick it up.
• Toss it in the trash: Dispose of it in the trash can (not in the yard waste bin or compost pile). Leaving pet waste on the ground, even for a short time, can harm waterways when it rains.

Why It Makes a Positive Difference

Pet waste left on the ground is similar to raw sewage. It contains harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, and parasites that can create health problems for both pets and people. In fact, E. coli levels in the Willamette River and local creeks often exceed the recommended water quality standards.

When we do not pick up after our pets, the waste and its associated bacteria can wash into local waterways, polluting our streams. This pollution can affect people who engage in water recreation activities like swimming, wading, or water skiing.

Picking up after your pet also creates a better environment for fish and wildlife. When pet waste decays in the water, it removes oxygen that is vital for fish and other animals living in the stream.

Small Scoop Equals Big Impact

Though it may seem like a small thing to leave your pet’s droppings on the ground, it adds up quickly. About 37.8 percent of households in Oregon own a dog, which equals approximately 635,418 homes. Each dog generates an average of 0.75 pounds of waste, leading to a total of 476,563 pounds of waste each day. That amounts to almost 174 million pounds in one year!

Become a Member—Pledge to Scoop

It’s easy to join the Capital Canine Club! Pledge to pick up after your pet and receive a free personal mutt-mitt dispenser while supplies last. Just fill out this quick member registration form.

About This Initiative

The Capital Canine Club program is sponsored by the City of Salem, the City of Keizer, Marion County, and the Marion Soil & Water Conservation District. By participating, you help keep our community clean and protect our waterways!