However, since Calgary has more than 30,000 acres of parks and green spaces, that would proportionate nearly 3,000 pounds of fecal matter each week.

The researchers, their study (New window) was published in the journal Nature, found most of the droppings in dog pens, park entrances and parking lots.

We thought there was a lot of fecessays Alessandro Massolo, wildlife ecologist and former associate professor at the University of Calgary School of Veterinary Medicine, who now teaches at the University of Pisa in Italy.

The faecal collection took place between June and August 2011 in 16 parks.

The study concludes that owners in dog parks pick up the least poop. One of the reasons would be that dogs hide to do their business, because that’s when they are most vulnerable. The other reason is that the dogs would be less supervised by their owner.

The risk of parasites

The aim of the study is to make city park owners and visitors aware of the health hazards of dog poop as it can contain various types of parasites.

” Dog feces can contain pathogens, some of which can be dangerous to both dogs and humans. »

Although a parasitological study of dog feces in Calgary found mostly non-zoonotic strains of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, a recent study using the same dog samples found a highly virulent zoonotic parasite, Echinococcus multilocularis, with a prevalence of approximately 2.4%.says the study.

Alessandro Massolo says tapeworm eggs have also been found in coyote and fox feces in Calgary: Coyotes maintain this parasite’s existence in nature, allowing dogs to become infected in turn when they go to the parks.

He adds that if a dog comes into contact with the parasite’s eggs, they can spread through its coat, the yard, or inside a home.

When a human ingests the eggs, the parasite grows in the liver and causes damage that can resemble liver cancer. says Alessandro Massolo. However, he adds that those most at risk are those who are immunocompromised.

According to him, another study should be carried out to quantify the risk of this type of contamination.

Lack of resources to clean up parks

Calgary City Parks Bureau clerk John Merriman says removing dog poop from parks is not part of spring cleaning: We don’t have the resources to clean public parks and dog parks as there are over 150 in the city.

” We rely on dog owners to collect their dog’s poop. »

Also, the parks’ trash cans are well maintained and emptied frequently, some more than others, adds John Merriman.

For his part, Alessandro Massolo advises against avoiding parks. He instead advises watching your dog when he’s free, picking him up and deworming him regularly, especially if he spends a lot of time at dog parks.

With information from Helen Pike