Pet Waste & Water Pollution

When nature calls, please do your "doo-ty" by both picking up your pet's waste and putting it in the trash.

Rochester’s City Code states that pet owners cannot leave waste on public or private property without permission from the property owner. While it is not illegal to leave pet waste in your own yard, the City encourages residents to pick up after pets to reduce the movement of bacteria into areas where it can be washed into local wetlands, lakes and creeks.

When it rains or snow melts, pet waste left on lawns, sidewalks, beaches, or along trails can wash bacteria, viruses, and parasites (such as worms and Giardia) into stormwater, which can threaten the health of humans and animals. Pet waste also contains nutrients that promote the growth of aquatic weeds and algae in lakes and rivers, some of which can be toxic to people and pets. This is the same as when too much fertilizer is used – it turns water bodies into a mucky, green color. Picking up pet waste helps keep our recreation areas clean, safe and beautiful.

Pet waste is not a part of the natural environment because we feed our pets fortified foods to keep them healthy. Waste from squirrels, birds, and other wildlife also contributes to water pollution; however, these animals forage for food in nature and tend to spread waste across the landscape.

Another source of fecal matter in Rochester's waterways comes from Canada Geese. The practice of feeding the geese is highly discouraged. Feeding the geese leads to more geese and more waste in the waterways, plus a greater chance of disease spreading through the flock. One goose produces 3 pounds of waste per day, adding fecal coliform bacteria and excess nutrients to our surface waters.