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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog using grass verge?

109 replies

namechanger0002 · 29/05/2022 13:43

Sorry for the terrible title. Obviously name changed.

I'd just mown and strimmed the grass verges in front of my house and was in process of sweeping. I stopped sweeping temporarily as people approached on the path so they could get past. One woman and her dog left the path and started walking directly over one of the verges. She then let the dog stop and use the grass as a loo, it was crouched and she waited, she had a waste bag ready in her hand, but didn't need to use that.

I didn't say anything but I thought it was inappropriate and rude. I'd clearly just mowed it and now there will be a patch where the dog used it. I know I don't own the verge but I maintain it (the local authority only does them once every few months and not well). I'm not a dog owner and wondered if this was normal and I'm being unreasonable.

OP posts:
Booklover3 · 29/05/2022 15:02

Yes OP YABU I’m afraid

vodkaredbullgirl · 29/05/2022 14:59

When a dog needs to pee it needs to pee.

pigsDOfly · 29/05/2022 14:55

Do the local foxes know not to pee on the grass?

YBU to undertake the unasked for maintenance of grass verges. It's nothing to do with you if the council doesn't cut it. That's not your decision to make.

Other people might like to see the birds and bees enjoying the uncut grass. It's not your personal verge it's for everyone.

My local council has planted wild flowers on many of our verges and they are full of bees.

Cutting the grass down to your idea of what's acceptable isn't helping the bee population one bit.

Summerwheredidyougo · 29/05/2022 14:53

Babdoc · 29/05/2022 13:58

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?
I’m with you, OP. I have shouted at owners when I catch them with their filthy dogs in my front garden. Some of the sods have the brass neck to shout back. I have been sorely tempted to follow them home with a shewee and piss on their gardens, see how they like it!

It wasn’t her garden though! Also many dogs won’t be trained to wee on a drain.

Oceanus · 29/05/2022 14:47

Op I think you're the entitled one... What's next? Register this public land as yours because you've been maintaining it and acting as the owner for a long time?
Op, inhale, exhale, go and enjoy your property. Later on have a laugh at this as you should.

Original poster
namechanger0002 · 29/05/2022 14:42

Throckmorton · 29/05/2022 14:26

Maybe the council were letting the grass grow long for pollinators and you've just ruined that. She has as much right to use the verge as you do, and arguably you are damaging the environment more than her dog is. Look up No Mow May.

I've heard of no mow May, and that's definitely not what the local authority is doing. My neighbours and I have maintained the verges for years, and the surrounding flower beds.

People don't even generally walk on the verges here, except occasionally for access, unless that's something I don't know much about either. Obviously I don't know much about dogs, hence the name change!

OP posts:
fyn · 29/05/2022 14:41

You are firstly being unreasonable for cutting grass that isn’t yours - there is a reason grass isn’t cut in May. I manage some chalk grassland planted with special native wildflowers which is on public land. Morons with lawnmowers keep coming and cutting it down to make it ‘look nice’ despite signage explaining its on of the rarest habits in the world.

You are also unreasonable for complaining about a dog weeing on public grass - do you also complain when cats and foxes wee on grass?

littlepeas · 29/05/2022 14:39

I’m not particularly bothered that they do, btw. I know the verge doesn’t belong to me.

littlepeas · 29/05/2022 14:38

Somebody quite often parks on the grass verge by my garage (not attached to my house and around the corner).

littlepeas · 29/05/2022 14:37

Thanks for the laugh op! 😂

Philisophigal · 29/05/2022 14:35

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn at the user's request.

InTheNightWeWillWish · 29/05/2022 14:34

I know I don't own the verge but I maintain it (the local authority only does them once every few months and not well). I'm not a dog owner and wondered if this was normal and I'm being unreasonable.

Well most local authorities only trim the verges every few months because they are encouraging long grasses and wildflowers, creating habitats for insects and bees. Depending on whether the local authority are wanting tussokcy grasses or wildflowers will also depend on the management plan - how frequently they are mown and whether they will leave the cuttings or take them away. You probably think the area outside your house looks rubbish but it’s because you have no idea what the management plan is and if you’re following it.

Irishfarmer · 29/05/2022 14:34

Dog pee will not turn the grass brown. If that was the case my front garden would be v brown!

Original poster
namechanger0002 · 29/05/2022 14:33

Throckmorton · 29/05/2022 14:26

Maybe the council were letting the grass grow long for pollinators and you've just ruined that. She has as much right to use the verge as you do, and arguably you are damaging the environment more than her dog is. Look up No Mow May.

I've heard of no mow May, and that's definitely not what the local authority is doing. My neighbours and I have maintained the verges for years, and the surrounding flower beds.

People don't even generally walk on the verges here, except occasionally for access, unless that's something I don't know much about either.

OP posts:
QuebecBagnet · 29/05/2022 14:32

So what’s a suitable time after mowing before you consider it acceptable?

HandbagsnGladrags · 29/05/2022 14:32

Can we just talk about how cats are allowed to shit everywhere though, and owners don't have to pick it up?? Makes me. 😡

SoggyPoppadom · 29/05/2022 14:30

Babdoc · 29/05/2022 13:58

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?
I’m with you, OP. I have shouted at owners when I catch them with their filthy dogs in my front garden. Some of the sods have the brass neck to shout back. I have been sorely tempted to follow them home with a shewee and piss on their gardens, see how they like it!

Well yes, allowing your dog into other peoples gardens to shit and puss is unreasonable but that's not what the OP is about. She's talking about a public grass verge, totally different.

comealongponds · 29/05/2022 14:28

This is utterly bonkers, surely can’t be real?!

motogirl · 29/05/2022 14:26

Our grass verges aren't mowed for a reason, it's beneficial for wildlife especially bees. They are all brimming with wildflowers currently and I would be annoyed if a busybody neighbour mowed them. Dogs are just fine though

Throckmorton · 29/05/2022 14:26

Maybe the council were letting the grass grow long for pollinators and you've just ruined that. She has as much right to use the verge as you do, and arguably you are damaging the environment more than her dog is. Look up No Mow May.

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 29/05/2022 14:23

Ha ha, bonkers post and bonkers response from @Babdoc. How very dare animals wee on the publicly owned land near to your home! 🤣🤣

YarnHoarder · 29/05/2022 14:23

Babdoc · 29/05/2022 13:58

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?
I’m with you, OP. I have shouted at owners when I catch them with their filthy dogs in my front garden. Some of the sods have the brass neck to shout back. I have been sorely tempted to follow them home with a shewee and piss on their gardens, see how they like it!

You expect a dog owner to walk their dog over onto the road enough times and frequently enough that their dog will prefer to squat over a drain? How would a small dog even manage this? My past dog wouldn't even pee on anything but grass unless absolutely desperate with no alternative. Also a road side verge is not someone's garden, they're public and maintained by the council.

Dogs are like toddlers, they have some ability to hold it but can't necessarily plan ahead or communicate that they need either a wee/poo but rather they go in the moment or ask to be let out. As I said above, some of them won't even go on anything but grass and most at least have a preference.

FOJN · 29/05/2022 14:23

Soubriquet · 29/05/2022 14:03

I also look at it as the dog version of Twitter.

Pisser is you will

A dog wees, another will sniff and wee on top, and another will sniff and wee on top of that.

It’s like Rover has tweeted, Fido replied and Fifi replied after that.

I've heard it referred to as pee-mail. Dogs don't just pee because their bladder is full. Everywhere outside of your home will be covered in the pee and poo of wildlife but people don't seem to worry about that.

Original poster
namechanger0002 · 29/05/2022 14:22

Thanks for the civil replies and the perspective!

OP posts:
coffeecupsandfairylights · 29/05/2022 14:22

namechanger0002 · 29/05/2022 14:11

I don't suppose I'd have ever known about it (aside from a brown patch) if I hadn't been out there and the owner had cleaned up most of any mess. I didn't say anything to the owner as I didn't know what was usual, as I've already said.

People don't walk on the grass verges either, and they're directly in front of our walls, with a narrow flower bed near the wall, then there's a path next to the road. I had stopped to let her pass on the path, and was standing there waiting,

Why would there be a brown patch after one wee?