The time has come to Close the Poop Loop. The city’s Creeks Division, in partnership with the County of Santa Barbara and the cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, Guadalupe, Santa Maria, and Solvang are calling on all pet owners, dog lovers, and volunteer stewards to properly clean up after their polluting pups. Dog waste is one of the county’s biggest water contaminants — one gram contains millions of bacteria, with enough harmful giardia, E.coli, salmonella, tapeworms, and roundworms to close a beach. With an estimated 22,500 S.B. dogs creating an average of 5.5 tons of poop per day, county officials are asking owners to trash the troublesome turds. Those who pledge to help reduce the poop via closethepooploop.org will receive a free flashlight.
