I wouldn't consider myself a green activist, but whilst doing research into the Dicky Bag I came across some disturbing facts about the harm dog poo causes to the water table. Many people justify not picking up after their dog by stating that is more environmentally friendly to leave it to break down naturally - well they're wrong. 
Dog poo contains Faecal Coliform Bacteria, Roundworm, Hookworm, Tapeworm, Whipworm, Giardia Heartworm Disease, E Coli, Cryptosporidiosis, Toxacaria Canis and other parasites. These don't disappear when the poo has broken down. They sink into the earth and then when it rains (which is quite often in the UK) these parasites and toxins get washed in to streams and rivers so polluting the water. Even worse than this is the theory held by people living on the coast that it is fine to leave poo on a beach because the tide will come in and it will be washed directly into the sea. The sea isn't a big toilet!
In Victorian times us humans became clued up to the serious illness caused by pumping raw sewage into our waterways so why do these ignorant people think it's ok to to fill our seas with animal excrement.
Parasitic infections are a danger to everyone and can make humans, especially children very ill and for pregnant women can pose a serious threat to their unborn child and cause blindness.
For further shocking details take a look at a report by Taci Watson for USA today
