Not only can leaving your dog's poop anywhere without picking it up harm other dogs if they eat it (have you heard of Giardiasis in dogs?) it can also harm a human and wildlife. Instead of potentially causing viruses and bacteria to grow in the wild and even at your home, do the simple act of picking up your pooch's poop.

We think of it as an act of decency, but there is actually much bigger reasons why you should be picking up after your dog.

“Pet waste carries bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can threaten the health of humans and wildlife,” the EPA website says.

Think it’s no big deal? American dogs alone create more than 10 million tons of waste a year. (www.livescience.com)

Earth Rated, a lifestyle brand for dog lovers that makes products to help other dog owners do their part, has created an infographic that summarizes why dog waste is a hazard that needs to be disposed of properly.

If you leave your dog’s waste behind, it can get mingled into stormwater runoff, into stormdrains, or nearby bodies of water.

Studies have shown that 20 to 30 percent of the bacteria in water samples from urban watersheds come from dog waste.

A study of air samples from Clevland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan found that 10 to 50 percent of the bacteria in the air came from dog waste.

Each city has its own laws and regulations when it comes to dog waste.

Regardless of where you live, everyone can:

1. Pick up your dog’s waste
2. Put it in a bag
3. Put in the trash.

Gross! That's a  lot of bacteria, right? And how long does it take to pick up your fur kid's poop and throw it away? Exactly.

Help keep the earth clean and free from extra impurities because there are already many issues that the world is dealing with (ie pollution and other factors). Spread the word (and check out this article from I Heart Dogs) that a dog's poop is a lot more dangerous that you may have originally thought and THAT'S why it's imperative to pick up after your pooch.