Roundworms, Whipworms and Hookworms can be found in dog waste and can be transmitted to people and other animals.

Salmonella, E. coli and Giardia are found in dog waste and can lead to an ill pet.

Generally speaking, dog waste can take many months or up to several years, according to some sources, to fully decompose.

Too much nitrogen can kill your lawn. Because of their diet, dogs can have up to two and a half times more nitrogen than cows in their waste.

Parvovirus is highly contagious. The dogs most likely to contract parvovirus are young puppies still undergoing their first vaccination series, older unvaccinated dogs, dogs under stress, dogs with a concurrent parasite infection, and certain breeds such as German shepherds, Rottweilers, American pit bull terriers, and Doberman pinschers.

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies dog poop as a pollutant, in the same category as oil spills, herbicides and insecticides because of the nutrients and pathogens that leach into soil and water, and impact wildlife, plant growth, and human health.