Expert: Walter Hintz - 2/28/2008

Question
I hope you can help me.  I have a very happy and healthy German Shepherd
Bitch.  Unfortunately we do not have a garden but the house backs on to a
playing field.  Kita is regularly walked in various different places but twice a
day we just let her on to the field for a quick wee.  My neighbours have
complained to me saying that the children play on the field and I must walk
Kita over the other side of the field!  Clearly children don't have the ability to
walk over the other side of the field!!!  Although I am quite upset about this
issue it would be useful to know of any harmful effects of urine on the grass
to children.  Thank you.

Answer
 Hi Karly
There is no reason to suspect that a dog's urine is any more dangerous to a child than the child's urine.  However you will not be able to convine the neighbors that that is the case.  I suspect that in the interest of getting along with your neighbors you will have to let the dog pee somewhere else.
walter