DULUTH, Ga., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent survey when it comes to scooping the poop, Houstonians felt their pet owning residents deserved to be in the dog house, ranking their city lowest on the list for responsible scooping, while San Francisco was deserving of a treat, scoring the highest marks. Neglecting to remove dog waste increases health threats at parks, playgrounds, and even backyards. Parasites, like hookworms and roundworms, may be found in animal waste and may be transmitted to other dogs AND to people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 10,000 cases of roundworm infection annually, more than the widely-reported West Nile Virus. Consumers can learn more about parasite infection related to dogs and how to prevent it by visiting http://www.StopWorms.com

The survey(i), conducted by Merial Limited, the makers of HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), ranks the top 15 markets (listed below from least to most responsible) based on an analysis of both dog owning and non-dog owning residents' (350 total respondents per market). The residents were asked their perceptions regarding the degree to which dog-owning residents pick up after their dogs.

                                  THE SCOOP
                 (1= least responsible; 15= most responsible)
    1.  Houston
    2.  Atlanta
    3.  Dallas
    4.  Phoenix
    5.  Seattle
    6.  Boston
    7.  Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg
    8.  Washington D.C.
    9.  Detroit
    10. New York
    11. Minneapolis-St. Paul
    12. Philadelphia
    13. Chicago
    14. Los Angeles
    15. San Francisco

"Many pet owners are unaware that intestinal roundworms and hookworms pose serious health threats to their pets, as well as to the human family members," said Dr. Peter M. Schantz, Epidemiologist, Division of Parasitic Diseases -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Michael Rubinstein, clinic director of the Humane Society of New York adds, "It's important to pick up after your pet and ensure that your dog is not the source of a parasitic infection. Ask your veterinarian about a once monthly heartworm preventive which in addition to preventing heartworm will treat and control intestinal parasites."

In addition, a national survey(ii) of 1,000 Americans (500 dog owners, 500 non-dog owners) found:

* Both dog owners and non-dog owners alike perceive New Yorkers as having the most responsible dog owners when it comes to picking up after their pets, with 30% of respondents saying they think New Yorkers are very responsible. On the other hand, 44% voted Detroit natives as the least responsible for cleaning up after their pets

* Nearly 38% of dog owners surveyed said they never scoop up after their pets, an increase of 8% from 2005

* 91% of pet owners allow their dogs to "take care of business" in their own yards. However, one third of that group report they sometimes or never cleanup after their dogs in their own yard

Public awareness of human parasite infections is low:

* 80% of dog owners don't know that dog waste poses a human health threat

* More than 83% of those surveyed are unaware that people can become sick from parasites that may be in dog waste

* When asked to rank animal-related health risks, approximately 28% of dog owners and non-dog owners cite West Nile, the flu-like disease spread by mosquitoes, as a greater health threat than parasite infection. In reality, just 2,840 cases of West Nile virus are reported annually compared to 10,000 cases of roundworms annually

Parasite Transmission

Dogs get roundworms either from ingesting worm eggs off the ground or because their mother was infected and passed the worms to her puppies during pregnancy. Adult roundworms then feed on partially digested food in the dog's intestine. Dogs infected with roundworms and hookworms can suffer from abdominal discomfort, vomiting, loss of appetite, severe weight loss or even sudden death. However, in most instances, dogs may be infected without showing any immediate signs of illness.

Parasite Infection

When infected dog waste is left on the ground, the eggs of roundworms can remain viable in the soil for years. As a result, anyone who comes in contact with the soil can also come in contact with the infected eggs. Since children are prone to play at the park or playground and then put their hands in their mouth, they are more susceptible to infection. Children are therefore at a higher risk for developing serious rashes, damage to internal organs and partial blindness from hookworms and roundworms, however, anyone playing in an open area could potentially be in danger.

Tips on Protection

"Roundworm and hookworm infections in dogs are treatable. The best strategy for control begins with keeping your pet worm-free and healthy," says Dr. Rubinstein. He offers the following tips:

* ALWAYS pick up after your pet to minimize the chance of spreading infection.

* Visit Web sites like http://www.StopWorms.com to learn how to prevent pets from transmitting potentially dangerous worms to you and your family.

* Take your puppy or kitten to the veterinarian for deworming at an early age and adhere to a regular monthly deworming schedule to prevent subsequent infection.

* Ask your veterinarian about HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), a product that treats and controls the most species of roundworms and hookworms and protects against heartworm disease.

* Clean up properly after pets, especially around the home and lawn. Use tools for clean up to avoid direct contact with pets' waste and wash hands immediately after cleanup.

* If you have a sandbox in your backyard, be sure to keep it covered to prevent neighborhood pets from using it as a litter box.

* As children are particularly vulnerable to intestinal parasites, help them understand the dangers of ingesting or coming in contact with feces or potentially contaminated soil.

* Make sure to carry towelettes to wipe children's hands frequently after playing in a park, public sandbox, etc.

About HEARTGARD

HEARTGARD® (ivermectin) is well tolerated. All dogs should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program. Following the use of HEARTGARD®, digestive and neurological side effects have rarely been reported. For more information, contact your veterinarian or visit http://www.HEARTGARD.com.

About Merial

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2005 sales were in excess of $1.9 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co. and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see http://www.merial.com.

i. The study was fielded by Braun Research Inc. from March 24th to March 31st, and has a 5% margin of error.

ii. The study was fielded by Braun Research Inc. from March 24th to March 31st among a sample of 510 dog and 503 non-dog owners using an online survey questionnaire, and has a 3% margin of error.