NCTCG Announces 2025 Doo the Right Thing Photo Contest

Published on May 15, 2025

By North Central Texas Council of Governments

The annual Doo the Right Thing (DTRT) photo contest runs from May 1 through June 30, 2025!  The North Central Texas Council of Governments and Arlington’s Stormwater Management Division are asking Arlington dog owners to help raise awareness about the effects of pet waste in our local waterways.

Residents can submit their DTRT pledge to pick up their dog’s doo and enter up to 5 photos for a chance to be featured on @DooNorthTexas social media accounts as a Watershed Protector.  Residents have until June 30^th to sign the pledge and enter their favorite photo by visiting www.nctcog.org/envir/watershed-management/stormwater/pet-waste.

Pet waste is one of the most common stormwater pollutants in urban areas. When pet waste is left on sidewalks, streets, yards or other open spaces it can be washed into storm drains and deposited in nearby rivers, creeks, streams and lakes polluting our local waterways. It decays in the water using up oxygen and releasing ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm water temperatures can kill fish and other aquatic life. Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth.  Nutrient loaded waters can become cloudy, green and unattractive for swimming, boating and fishing. Pet waste also carries parasites, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens which are unsafe for humans and other dogs.  These can include:

• Salmonellosis – most common bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans causing headaches, fever, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Campylobacteriosis- bacterial infection causing diarrhea in humans.
• Toxocariasis - roundworms transmitted from animal to humans causing fever, rash, vision loss, and cough.
• Parvovirus – A highly contagious disease that affects the intestinal lining of dogs of all ages.  It is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with infected dog waste and can cause diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite and even death.

These diseases affect adults and children playing near or in water but also affect adults working in their yards and gardens as well as children playing outside.  Residents can Doo the Right Thing by pledging to be a responsible pet owner.  Follow these simple tips to help keep our local waterways and community clean.

• Pick up pet waste from your yard.  It’s not fertilizer.  Bacteria and other pathogens are dangerous to children playing in the yard and can contaminate vegetables growing in your garden.
• Carry disposable bags while walking your dog to pick up and dispose of the waste in the trash.  Leaving pet waste on the ground is not only bad manners it can get washed into our local waterways through the storm drain system.
• Never dispose of cat or dog waste in your composting bin.   Composting will not generate enough heat to kill pathogens and bacteria from pet waste.
• Tell friends and neighbors about the harmful effects of pet waste and encourage them to clean up after their pets.