I found this on the web. "Although dog and cat manure both contain organic nutrients useful to plants, neither is safe to use in soil containing food crops. Both contain parasitic pathogens that are harmful to human health. Dog manure can contain the eggs of Toxocara canis (the common large roundworm), which can also infect humans. It's estimated that 90% of young puppies are infected with this worm-many are born infected-and up to 50% of all adult dogs. The eggs can be transferred to the human mouth by a person's fingers or from foods that have been in contact with dog feces. Toxocara eggs can remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years depending on environmental conditions. Because no information is known on the effects hot composting has on Toxocara eggs, it also unsafe to add dog manure to compost heaps intended for food crops. If you have a dog feces problem in your garden, remove the feces and take care to use good hygiene practices (thoroughly washing hands and vegetables) to avoid possible contamination." Also, google a search on "dog poop/feces garden." A gardenweb search will find opinions as well. eg...Kelly Slocum from the vermicomposting forum advises strongly against using/allowing dog feces in the garden.

I find myself sighing as I read these remarks. Certainly my experience is not a Gospel reading but it is my experience. I've lived in this house long enough to have had three dogs. The first two were a chow and a golden. Anyone who has had a chow will likely confirm that they refuse to poop in their own yard if another location is likely to be available within the next 48 hours. I've never seen anything like it. So the chow is never a problem. The golden happened to be trained to poop out at the fence line, so we never had a problem with him UNTIL old age set in. I never knew how much food a dog could process in one day!!! We had piles EVERYWHERE! At first we picked them up and tossed them into the ivy where he had been pooping for years before. But you always miss some. It didn't take me long to realize that some of the piles I missed had been composted in place by insects and microbes. After thinking about that for a few weeks I decided to run some tests. I marked some fresh piles and let them go undisturbed. Others I sprinkled with sugar, corn meal, and sugar/corn meal mixed. The ones I sprinkled with corn meal were hilarious. They grew little fungal bodies that sent up a bunch of thin, black, mushrooms with almost no head on them. My wife called them Chia turds. Nothing much happened on the others and the corn meal piles were not very replicable. However, no matter what I did to the piles, they completely melted down into the soil within 4 days. On day 1 I saw flies on the piles and the piles looked exactly like you would expect. On day 2 I saw pill bugs on the piles and they started to soften at the edges. On day 3 the piles were unrecognizable as anything but a pile. And I also experienced stepping on a 3-day pile - it did not stick to my shoe! On day 4 the pile had melted down and you had to really look for it. So now to complete this thought from the intro, our current dog is half chow and half sheba inu. In keeping with the chow inclination, she will wait days to poop on someone else's property. Since then I have done a little more study. There is a professor at UT Austin who is researching urban dung beetles. Apparently there are species of critters who decompose the dung from every species of animal. Otherwise we'd be walking around on miles of dinosaur dung. But anyway, she is looking into which species of insects are needed to decompose which species of dung. Here is a link that might be useful: Google Search on Pat Richardson

Thanks so much everyone! I'm not going to worry about the dog dobbins. I haven't yet gotten a temp on my compost (my candy thermometer doesn't work so well - anyone want to come over for a fresh batch of FUDGE? haha), but I've had heat off and on. I even had a little steam a couple of times. But these dogs that visit are actually mostly housedogs who go out in their backyard and jump the fence, so I'm hoping they're fairly healthy boys. Plus, I did read somewhere that roundworms are in the soil anyway. So that solves the dog doo. The blue mud, I don't know. I really don't think it's cat because I have had cats my whole life and know cat poop very well. Also, the only cat in the neighborhood who goes outside doesn't use my front yard. When he needs to go, he has a nice spot picked out by my butterfly bush. My mom thought maybe the leaves somehow matted down the soil and trapped some moisture, causing the blue mud smell. If I still lived in the boonies, I'd swear someone let their pigs loose and they were rolling around in my yard. But the only pig on the loose I know of is long gone. He died, froze solid, and became the traveling gnome for an entire winter. Every day that frozen (large) pig would show up in someone's yard, propped against a tree or a bench. Sometimes he'd be leaning against a stop sign on a lonely road, frozen solid. My mom and I tried to haul him to my uncle's yard, but he was too heavy. Poor Mr. Frozen Pig. Donn has it right...I'm coo-coo for composting!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 14, 2013 - The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily recalled specific lots of dry pet food because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. These lots were distributed in the United States and represent roughly one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of annual production. No Salmonella-related illnesses have been reported to date in association with these product lots. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. This issue is limited to the specific dry pet food lot codes listed below. This affects roughly one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of total annual production. The affected product was distributed to select retailers across the United States. These products were made during a 10 day window at a single manufacturing site. P&G�s routine testing determined that some products made during this timeframe have the potential for Salmonella contamination. As a precautionary measure, P&G is recalling the potentially impacted products made during this timeframe. No other dry dog food, dry cat food, dog or cat canned wet food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement. P&G is retrieving these products as a precautionary measure. Consumers who purchased a product listed below should stop using the product and discard it and contact P&G toll-free at 800-208-0172 (Monday � Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST), or via website at www.iams.com or www.eukanuba.com. Media Contact: Jason Taylor 513-622-1111. Products affected by this announcement: EUKANUBA DRY DOG FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Eukanuba Dog Food Base Large Breed Mature Adult 15 LB 31874177 19014270156 6Nov14 30 LB 31874177 19014270309 6Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Maintenance Mature Adult 30 LB 31954177 19014149308 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Maintenance Puppy 16.5 LB 31884177 19014042234 7Nov14 33 LB 31884177 19014609468 7Nov14 5 LB 31884177 19014039852 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Small Breed Adult 16 LB 31904177 19014010516 9Nov14 4 LB 31904177 19014039722 9Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Small Breed Puppy 16 LB 31944177 19014010509 13Nov14 4 LB 31874177 19014039678 6Nov14 40 LB 31874177 19014011070 6Nov14 31944177 19014011070 13Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Boxer Adult 36 LB 31944177 19014019588 13Nov14 31954177 19014019588 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Chihuahua Adult 4 LB 31884177 19014607037 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Labrador Retriever Adult 36 LB 31954177 19014019564 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Premium Performance 30/20 Adult 33 LB 31884177 19014609475 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Professional Feeding Bag Small Breed Puppy 44 LB 31874177 19014113194 6Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Weight Control Large Breed Adult 30 LB 31894177 19014269303 8Nov14 31924177 19014269303 11Nov14 IAMS DRY DOG FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Iams Dog Food Healthy Naturals Chicken Adult 13.3 LB 31884177 19014612017 7Nov14 31904177 19014612017 9Nov14 31924177 19014612017 11Nov14 31934177 19014612017 12Nov14 31944177 19014612017 13Nov14 2.9 LB 31944177 19014700165 13Nov14 25.7 LB 31884177 19014700646 7Nov14 31894177 19014700646 8Nov14 31904177 19014700646 9Nov14 31914177 19014700646 10Nov14 31934177 19014700646 12Nov14 5 LB 31904177 19014612635 9Nov14 31914177 19014612635 10Nov14 Iams Dog Food Healthy Naturals Weight Control Adult 13.3 LB 31894177 19014612024 8Nov14 Iams Dog Food Premium Protection Chicken Adult 12.1 LB 31894177 19014611362 8Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Breed Mature Adult 30 LB 31884177 19014611331 7Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Breed Senior Plus 13.3 LB 31934177 19014612000 12Nov14 26.2 LB 31934177 19014700615 12Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Chunks Adult 15 LB 31944177 19014610815 13Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Small Breed Adult 13.3 LB 31874177 19014610990 6Nov14 31894177 19014610990 8Nov14 31924177 19014610990 11Nov14 3.1 LB 31874177 19014700110 6Nov14 31894177 19014700110 8Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612055 6Nov14 31894177 19014612055 8Nov14 31924177 19014612055 11Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Small Breed Puppy 5 LB 31904177 19014700943 9Nov14 IAMS DRY CAT FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Iams Cat Food Healthy Naturals Chicken Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014611881 6Nov14 31944177 19014611881 13Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612697 6Nov14 31944177 19014612697 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food Healthy Naturals Weight Control Adult 5 LB 31894177 19014612703 8Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Chicken Adult 10.8 LB 31864177 19014612086 5Nov14 31904177 19014612086 9Nov14 31914177 19014612086 10Nov14 31924177 19014612086 11Nov14 31944177 19014612086 13Nov14 17.4 LB 31864177 19014611836 5Nov14 31864177 19014611836 5Nov14 31914177 19014611836 10Nov14 31924177 19014611836 11Nov14 31944177 19014611836 13Nov14 3.2 LB 31904177 19014612659 9Nov14 31924177 19014612659 11Nov14 31934177 19014612659 12Nov14 31944177 19014612659 13Nov14 5.7 LB 31864177 19014612499 5Nov14 31914177 19014612499 10Nov14 31924177 19014612499 11Nov14 31944177 19014612499 13Nov14 6.3 LB 31944177 19014611621 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Chicken Kitten 17.4 LB 31904177 19014611867 9Nov14 3.2 LB 31904177 19014612628 9Nov14 31954177 19014612628 14Nov14 5.7 LB 31904177 19014612505 9Nov14 31904177 19014612505 9Nov14 31954177 19014612505 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Digestive Care Adult 16 LB 31904177 19014611904 9Nov14 31954177 19014611904 14Nov14 3 LB 31904177 19014700202 9Nov14 31954177 19014700202 14Nov14 5 LB 31904177 19014612451 9Nov14 31954177 19014612451 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Hairball Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014611911 6Nov14 31954177 19014611911 14Nov14 3.1 LB 31884177 19014700219 7Nov14 31914177 19014700219 10Nov14 31954177 19014700219 14Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612420 6Nov14 31884177 19014612420 7Nov14 31914177 19014612420 10Nov14 31934177 19014612420 12Nov14 31954177 19014612420 14Nov14 9.8 LB 31894177 19014612161 8Nov14 31914177 19014612161 10Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Hairball Mature Adult 5 LB 31954177 19014612604 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Weight Control & Hairball Adult 16 LB 31884177 19014612147 7Nov14 31914177 19014612147 10Nov14 31924177 19014612147 11Nov14 31934177 19014612147 12Nov14 31944177 19014612147 13Nov14 2.9 LB 31914177 19014700240 10Nov14 31924177 19014700240 11Nov14 31934177 19014700240 12Nov14 31944177 19014700240 13Nov14 31954177 19014700257 14Nov14 5 LB 31884177 19014612789 7Nov14 31914177 19014612789 10Nov14 31924177 19014612789 11Nov14 31934177 19014612789 12Nov14 31954177 19014612789 14Nov14 5.5 LB 31924177 19014611652 11Nov14 9.8 LB 31884177 19014612130 7Nov14 31914177 19014612130 10Nov14 31924177 19014612130 11Nov14 31934177 19014612130 12Nov14 31944177 19014612130 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Weight Control Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014612178 6Nov14 31934177 19014612178 12Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612680 6Nov14 31934177 19014612680 12Nov14 9.8 LB 31874177 19014612123 6Nov14 Iams Cat Food Professional Feeding Bag Chicken Adult 33 LB 31914177 19014105458 10Nov14 31944177 19014105458 13Nov14