The Scoop on Poop: Myths Dog Owners Still Believe

Still Believing These Poop Myths? You’re Not Alone.

As professional pet waste removal pros, we’ve heard it all: “It’s just fertilizer!” “The rain will take care of it.” “My dog only goes in one spot!” These myths are surprisingly common and potentially harmful to your yard, your family, and the environment.

At Major Piles, we believe in clean yards and the facts that back them up. So let’s bust the top dog waste myths and get to the truth.

Myth #1: Dog Poop Is Good for the Lawn

Why It Burns Grass, Not Fertilizes

Dog poop isn’t plant food, it’s full of nitrogen and acid that scorch your grass instead of helping it grow. Rather than lush green patches, you’ll end up with yellow or brown burn marks.

Dog Diets = High Acidity, Unlike Herbivores

Cow manure works as fertilizer because cows eat grass. Dogs, on the other hand, eat protein-rich diets, making their waste too acidic and toxic for soil health.

Bottom line: If you’re “feeding” your lawn dog poop, you’re killing it slowly.

Myth #2: It’ll Just Wash Away

It Doesn’t Disappear—It Pollutes

Rain doesn’t make poop vanish. It carries harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella into storm drains and waterways. That runoff spreads contamination far beyond your yard.

Dangers of Stormwater Contamination

Dog waste is considered a non-point source pollutant by the EPA. That’s the same category as oil and toxic chemicals. It’s that serious.

So no, rain is not your cleanup strategy. It’s a one-way ticket to environmental harm.

Myth #3: My Dog Only Poops in One Spot

Damage Adds Up Over Time

It might feel like your dog’s doing you a favor by going in the same corner of the yard, but repeated waste in one area creates concentrated damage. Over time, that patch becomes a dead zone of compacted, bacteria-loaded soil.

One Corner Becomes a Health Hazard

That single spot can harbor worms, parasites, and harmful pathogens long after the visible waste is gone. This puts your dog and anyone walking through at risk.

Myth #4: I Don’t Need to Worry in Winter/Summer

Seasonal Bacteria Thrive

Think cooler weather kills bacteria? Nope. Many bacteria and parasites survive year-round, especially in Houston’s milder winters and hot, humid summers.

Smells and Pests Don’t Take a Break

In summer, poop smells stronger and draws more flies. In winter, it freezes in place and lingers longer. No matter the season, cleanup still matters.

Major Piles Is Here to Clear Up the Myths and the Mess

If you’ve been falling for these dog waste myths, don’t worry—you’re not alone. But now that you know better, it’s time to clean smarter.

At Major Piles, we offer one-time and recurring pet waste removal services to make your yard safer, cleaner, and better-smelling.

Stay Informed. Stay Clean.

Call Us Today. Let’s bust the myths and the mess, together.