Q:   How sick can you get from exposure?

A:   That can depend on exposure levels & your own tolerance.  While people often experience many of the symptoms of dog            waste exposure, without doctor's visits & testing, there's no way to know what can be directly attributed to your dog's 

      waste.  Keeping exposure levels low is of course a great preventative choice in maintaining healthy lifestyles !

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Q:   Can the contaminants in dog waste kill you?  

A:   The CDC says that's pretty rare. They say people with lowered immune responses are at much greater risk of having                  more severe reactions.  People with lowered immune responses may want to consult with their healthcare providers                    on their tolerance.

 

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Q:   Why are the diseases & parasites from dog waste so similar to the ones in food contamination outbreaks?   

A:   Food contamination outbreaks are often caused when food has come in contact with intestinal parts at processing plants.            As passing through the intestines is part of the process of 'becoming poop', they share many of the same contaminants.  

   

 

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Q:   You can't have exposure if you don't step in it or touch it, right?

A:   Wrong actually. It's beginning to decay as soon as it's deposited.  It's breaking down and also going airborne.  Rain &                wind will help it break down faster.  The Michigan air quality studies in 2011 attributed the high quantities of dog fecal                bacteria in the air to be from unscooped dog feces. People with respiratory conditions may be more sensitive to airborne            waste particles.  Interestingly, the Michigan studies didn't start out looking for dog waste matter !                                                                                                                                  click here for more info on the Michigan studies.     

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Q:   Animals have always deposited their poop outside.  Why is it such a big deal for dogs now?  

A:   Our continually growing population & trend of more & more people living in concentrated areas means that the number            of dogs living in concentrated areas has also grown exponentially.  It's way beyond what our ecosystem could                have tolerated decades ago. 

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Q:   It can't really be that much poop.  Can it? 

A:   It's estimated that the roughly 78 million dogs in the U.S. on average excrete 274 pounds of waste each year.

      That translates to roughly 10 million tons of dog waste each year.  

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Q:   Why isn't it a problem for human waste?

A:    Human waste is treated before re-entering our waterways. The EPA says flushing dog waste in the toilet is a good option! 

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Q:   Why can't composted dog & cat poop be used in vegetables gardens?

A:    Composted horse, pig and other animal manures CAN be used in vegetable gardens. Dog & cat poop can't because they             contain certain bacterias & parasites that will stay alive for years. Composting generally doesn't generate enough heat to 

       kill them in the one year most people compost for.

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Q:   Does unscooped dog poop attract flies?

A:   Yes. Flies lay their eggs in feces, providing larvae an immediate source of food from undigested matter in the stool. 

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Q:   If I see little 'wormlike creatures' in my dog's stool, could they be fly larvae?

A:   They could be.  In warm weather, fly eggs can hatch in as little as one week.  Another benefit of scooping regularly is you          won't mistakenly suspect your dog has worms & make emergency vet visits for fly larvae !

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Q:   Do the flies attracted by stool bite people & dogs?

A:   Yes.  We can attest that they do. Some of your dog's scratching in warm weather could be from fly bites.  

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Q:   How Do I Get Service Started?

A:   For the fastest response, call our main number,  718-DOG-POOP. ( 718-364-7667 )  We'll schedule a time to come see               your property.  We'd love to meet the dogs as well !  You won't need to be home but we'll need access to the yard.                     We'll contact you while we're there & give you some rates for service.  You can also use the contact page on our website             & we'll reach out to you for scheduling.

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Q:   Is there a contract?

A:   No.  Taking vacations with your lucky dogs?   We ask for one week's notice to halt or suspend service.  

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Q:   Are There Additional Charges Beside The Quoted Weekly Rates?

A:   There could be an initial cleaning needed depending on when the yard was last cleaned or how thoroughly it's been kept            up with.  We'll let you know after seeing the yard.

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Q:   Are There Any Yards That Are Just Too Much For You To Clean?

A:   Not Yet.  Life doesn't go in a straight line.  Prolonged health ailments & work schedules can lead to more arduous clean              ups.  We're happy to see families moving forward to healthier environments & reclaiming their yards!

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Q:   How often should we have our yard cleaned?

A:   Lifestyles, tolerance levels & budgets can differ.  While the majority of our clients prefer cleanings 2x weekly, we might              suggest only weekly for your yard. After seeing your yard we'll give you prices for varying service.  We want you to have            the service that fits best for you.

 

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Q:   Do I pay weekly?

      Yards serviced once weekly & higher are invoiced monthly.  

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Q:   What payment methods does Doody Free accept?

A:   Doody Free accepts Visa & Mastercard debit & credit cards, American Express & Discover cards.  We also accept Paypal for          online gift card purchases.

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Q:   Can I Get A One-Time Cleaning?

       Of Course.  We're Happy To Doo It! 

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Q:   Is it safe to have a vegetable garden where your dogs poop?

A:   The EPA advises container gardening or changing/adding soil to those areas for planting of vegetation.                               

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Q:   If we set up a backyard composting system, will Doody Free deposit our dog's waste in the compost pile?

A:   Yes.  We're happy to be part of solutions!!  

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