May 19, 2015

Here's the Scoop: Poop Pollutes!
Take the Pledge for Cleaner Water

Did you know that pet waste is one of the leading causes of harmful bacteria in our local waterways? In addition to being unsightly, pet waste gets washed into nearby lakes, streams or rivers when it rains and becomes a major source of nitrogen and bacteria pollution. This excess nitrogen and bacteria is responsible for cloudy, green, foul-smelling water; aquatic dead zones; declines in local fish and crab populations; and beach closures. Yuck!

The average-sized dog creates a half pound of poop every day. That's a lot of pollution getting washed into our waters! What can you do to prevent it? It's as easy as 1-2-3:


STEP #1 Take the pledge to Scoop the Poop!	STEP #2 Scoop it, bag it and trash it each and every time (whether in your own yard or out for a walk).	STEP #3 Share the pledge with others in your community. For more ways you can protect your local waterway, visit askHRgreen.org!

A Scratch Behind the Ears to our Scoop the Poop Community Partners:

Chesapeake Humane Society

Elizabeth River Project

James River Association

Lafayette Wetlands Partnership

Nansemond River Preservation Alliance

Norfolk SPCA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Virginia Beach SPCA

Check Out this Video!

At askHRgreen.org, we meet some of the nicest people. Take Elizabeth "Lizzi" Stewart, for instance. A graduate of Oscar Smith High School right here in Chesapeake, Lizzi is a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she is earning her BFA in motion media. Last summer, and for a short stint over the holidays, she interned with Red Chalk Studios, our terrific creative partners who produce all the cool graphics you see on our website and in this e-newsletter. While there, she worked on the askHRgreen.org account and "learned a few things," she said.

"When I was at Red Chalk, they briefly mentioned they had created a 'scoop the poop' song and jokingly told me, 'If you ever want to do something with this jingle...' "

So she did, creating the video you see here, for her Motion Media Technique class. Her professor really liked the project, added Lizzi, because people not picking up after their pets is one of his pet peeves.

"He thought it was pretty fun and a nice way to approach a subject that people might be uncomfortable talking about," she said.

We think it's fun, too. So take a peek and see what you think. By the way, Lizzi received an "A."

Photo taken by Madison Rich