News & Updates from the park

New Waste Bag Dispenser Stations for Kilcona

In response to a growing number of poop piles and ongoing complaints from responsible dog owners, Kilcona Park Dog Club and its valued Platinum Sponsor, Royal LePage Prime, have joined forces to make it easier for park users who forget bags – or those who simply run out – to pick up after their pups.

Six new waste bag dispenser stations were installed in Kilcona’s off- leash area yesterday. Soon they will be stocked with “Mutt Mitt” waste bags, thanks to the generosity of Royal LePage Prime’s dog-loving, community-minded management team, many of whom are Kilcona Dog Park users.

Studies show that parks that provide waste bags have a 90% higher pick-up rate than those that don’t.

The waste bag stations, conveniently located next to litter baskets and underground bins, will make it easier for Kilcona dog owners to do the right thing.

KPDC and Royal LePage Prime are optimistic that the light-hearted “Poop Fairy” message will encourage Kilcona dog owners to do their doggy duties, just as it did there.

Just who is the Poop Fairy?
Well, like her famous friend the Tooth Fairy, the Poop Fairy is the stuff of myth. Flying unseen through parks and neighborhoods, she is said to follow dogs and their owners, cleaning up one mess before fluttering off to attend to the next canine creation. The widespread belief that she exists seems to reassure some that cleaning up after their dog is optional.
Sadly, the fabled Poop Fairy is just that… a fable! There is no magical way to make dog poop disappear. In order to fully dispose of waste, we must actually pick it up and put it in a trash container all by ourselves.

The waste bag dispenser stations, Poop Fairy signs and a public education campaign have been introduced as a pilot project to raise awareness that dog owners who don’t clean up after their pets are contributing to a much larger public health problem. Over the next year, KPDC’s Board will evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot project in reducing the amount of unclaimed dog feces.

The dispenser stations were funded by Royal LePage Prime, Kilcona Park Dog Club, and Councillors Russ Wyatt (Transcona), Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) and Jason Schreyer (East Kildonan) through a Land Dedication Reserve Fund Grant.
KPDC thanks Jefferson County Animal Services Colorado Manager, Carla Zinati for her support for the pilot project and credits the agency for providing the original artwork to the Poop Fairy campaign.

Facts about Dog Waste and Public Health
• Dog feces don’t biodegrade like wild animal feces.
Because we feed our dogs food that’s different from the food wolves, coyotes and other wild animals eat, dog waste does not break down as quickly.
• Dog poop contains harmful bacteria and parasites.
Dog waste can contain harmful organisms like E. coli, giardia, salmonella, roundworms, hookworms, and cryptosporidium. These can be passed on to both your dog AND you and may cause health problems.
• Dog waste pollutes groundwater, ponds and other water bodies.

Due to the large number of dogs in Kilcona Park, dog waste accumulates and washes into the ponds. Storm water runoff is a highly toxic soup. Bacteria in dog waste can harm water quality in creeks and rivers and alter the ecosystems. According to the EPA, dog waste is as toxic to the environment as chemical and oil spills.

If like many responsible dog owners you’re committed to recycling, please continue to use your own grocery bags to help keep our favorite park clean. If you forget or run out, please feel free to pick up a bag stop at one of the new dispensers.