Success StoryCompanion Animals: Dog Excrement in Lexington Parks



Companion Animals: Dog Excrement in Lexington Parks

Author: Brad Lee

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Dog excrement, which contains 4.0% nitrogen and 3.1% phosphorus, is one of the primary sources of nutrient runoff that can lead eutrophication of Kentucky’s urban waterways.  We developed an outreach program, supported by the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, to bring awareness to this important issue.  As a part of this educational effort, we investigated the impact of signage reminding dog park users to pick up after their pets.  A baseline was established by georeferencing the dog excrement piles across four Lexington dog parks on April 26, 2022. Signage was installed by the entrance to each dog park on this date, and the dog excrement piles were georeferenced one year later, April 24, 2023.  Data collected indicates that signage at the dog park entrance gates do not impact the number of excrement piles remaining within the dog park.  






Stories by Plant and Soil Sciences


Small Horse Farm Improves Forage from UK Equine Pasture Evaluation Program

Small Horse Farm Improves Forage from UK Equine Pasture Evaluation Program

about 4 years ago by Jimmy Henning

In 2016, Paul and Melita Knapper were the first farm to be enrolled in the RCPP Overgrazing and Soil... Read More


Fescue eradication and improved management increases profits for Central Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm

Fescue eradication and improved management increases profits for Central Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm

about 4 years ago by Jimmy Henning

A central Kentucky thoroughbred horse farm experienced a high incidence of fescue toxicosis symptoms... Read More