International Pooper Scooper Week: April 1-7
International Pooper Scooper Week runs April 1 through 7 every year, and most people have never heard of it. It was established in 2008 by the Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (APAWS), the same organization founded in 2002 by professional pooper scoopers who recognized that pet waste was a serious public health and environmental problem that was not getting enough attention.
At Dog Poo Crew, we service yards through every Fargo winter because letting waste freeze and accumulate for months compounds every health and environmental risk this week exists to address. International Pooper Scooper Week is not a spring cleaning reminder. It is a call to build habits that protect your yard, your family, and your community every month of the year.
Dog Waste Is More Than Just a Backyard Problem
Most people know they should pick up after their dog. Fewer people understand the full scope of what happens when they do not. Here are the key reasons it matters and it is not just an issue to be dealt with when the snow is absent.
Your Waterways and Soil Pay the Price
The Environmental Protection Agency classifies pet waste as a nonpoint source pollutant, grouping it alongside oil and toxic chemicals. Rain and snowmelt carry it from yards and sidewalks into storm drains and eventually into rivers, lakes, and streams. Once it reaches waterways, the nitrogen and phosphorus in dog feces fuel algae overgrowth, deplete oxygen levels, and create conditions that are hostile to fish and aquatic life. This means your piles of waste in the spring are directly contributing to polluting the environment.
APAWS estimates that the dogs in the United States produce over 4.4 billion pounds of waste per year. That is enough to cover 900 football fields more than a foot deep. Left unmanaged, that waste does not just disappear.
The Health Risks Are Real
Dog waste carries parasites and bacteria that remain dangerous regardless of temperature. Roundworm eggs in particular can survive in soil for years, infecting other dogs and people who come into contact with contaminated ground. Other common threats include Giardia, Salmonella, E. coli, and Parvovirus. Letting waste accumulate under snow all winter and then doing one big spring cleanup means months of exposure risk building up in your yard before anyone addresses it. Children playing outside and dogs using the yard are at risk the entire time.
Dog Poo Crew services yards all winter long in Fargo for exactly this reason. Even with regular weekly dog waste removal service, some waste will end up under fresh snowfall. But, regular pickup through the winter months is the only way to keep those risks from compounding.
Making It a Year-Round Habit, Not a Once-a-Year Chore
Cleaning up after your dog should not be something you think about once it melts in the spring. The whole point of International Pooper Scooper Week is to build habits that stick all year whether in your own yard or on walks or in parks. Here is how to do it right:
- Keep Bags on You at All Times: Attach a waste bag dispenser to every leash you own so running out of bags is never an excuse. Buy in bulk and keep a backup stash by your door.
- Pick It Up on the Spot: Do not leave it and plan to grab it later. Later never happens. Tie the bag immediately and find the nearest trash can.
- Dispose of It Properly: Toss tied bags in a designated pet waste bin or your outdoor garbage. Do not leave bags sitting on the ground, hanging from a fence, or stuffed into someone else’s bin without permission.
- Skip the Compost Pile: Dog waste does not belong in your compost. The bacteria and parasites it contains are not reliably broken down in standard composting and can contaminate whatever you eventually use that compost on.
- Do Not Let Winter Be an Excuse: Cold weather does not pause the health risks associated with pet waste. Pick up through fall and winter so you are not dealing with months of accumulation when the snow melts.
- Hire a Professional If You Need To: Dog Poo Crew services Fargo-Moorhead yards every week of the year, including through the winter. If keeping up with your yard feels unmanageable, that is exactly what we are here for.
By building these habits now, you protect your yard, your family, your neighbors, and your community every month of the year, not just when the weather is nice.
Dog Poo Crew is proud to be a member of APAWS and has been helping Fargo-Moorhead dog owners scoop the poop since 2006. Whether you need weekly service, bi-weekly visits, or a one-time yard cleanup, we handle it all and haul everything away. Call 701.219.6589 or visit dogpoocrew.com to sign up today.
About Dog Poo Crew
Dog Poo Crew is Fargo’s most experienced professional pet waste removal company, serving the Fargo-Moorhead area since 2006. With 20 years of hands-on experience in residential and commercial dog waste removal, our team writes from real knowledge of what it takes to keep yards clean, safe, and healthy for pets and families in the upper Midwest.