Dogs and poo and public areas. Why isn't this practice questioned more?

[Exgiraffe]

Just returned from a walk (with dc, no dogs as I don't have one) and started to think about how extraordinary it is that people take dogs on walks in public parks and green spaces specifically to give them the opportunity to poo!!

Why isn't this practice questioned more by the community? Surely dog owners are the minority so why aren't communities discussing this and requiring dog owners to change their behaviour and encourage dogs to poo at home.

This is especially an issue in cities where green grass and space are limited. Even if dog owners scoop up the poo there would be remnants on the grass where unsuspecting picnickers sit and children play upon.

Our neighbour's cat used to shit in out veg patch - not a thing could be done to stop it until we got a dog, the cat doesn't seem quite so keen to use our veg garden as a toilet - mind you the dog does, so it looks like there will always be some kind of animal shitting in our garden. He shits elsewhere too - we clean it up but how on earth would you stop a dog pooing on a piece of grass while out for a walk - you people have lost the plot - you need the love of a good dog to gain some perspective!

Stop appropriating open space designated for other use (e.g. sports fields) and sort out provision for dogs
This would solve a lot of problems.

They're dirty, smell, shit, slaver, and are dangerous to children. Have fleas, worms

Reallyanotherone - such an ignorant and goady comment. None of that is true if a dog has a responsible owner.

Dogs are incredibly loyal companions.
They enhance the lives of so many people, encouraging them to adopt a healthy lifestyle (a dog needs to go out for a walk whatever the weather) and helping to combat depression/relieve stress.

My dogs provide endless entertainment. They've all got very different personalities and are a complete joy. They're always over the moon to see me when I come in - even if I've just popped to the local shop.

They're also great family unifiers. Difficult for teenagers to maintain a strop when a Labrador is looking mournfully at them. Taking the dogs for a walk is a great way of bonding with family members and even the most slovenly teen can usually be persuaded to get out of bed and go for a walk if a dog is waving a lead at them.

You dog haterz, need to get to know a lovely dog, drop the hate - life's better with a dog!

Dogs are amazing. Nobody disputes that.

What annoys me is the lengths people go to to justify or deflect from the dog shit issue. I realise the dog shit issue stems from a limited number of dog owners, but all dog owners should take collective responsibility. Then deal with it.

What do you mean collective responsibility? Be held responsible for irresponsible dog owners?? Erm no

I realise the dog shit issue stems from a limited number of dog owners, but all dog owners should take collective responsibility. Then deal with it.

Say what?!! If you have children do you feel you should take collective responsibility for the behaviour of all the children in the country?!!

I'm a dog owner and I'm with the OP on this one!

When we walk our dog in open countryside, fields with sheep cows etc - we pick up the dog poop in a bag but if there are "traces" it's not likely to be where children will be playing/people sit down to picnic as the grass has other animal droppings on too.

I would NEVER walk my dog in a park where people are likely to sit/children play etc. If I do take him anywhere even remotely like this he is kept on a tight leash so that if he does poop it only goes on solid footpath where it's all easily cleaned up leaving no trace like there would be on grass IYSWIM.

Baffles me why people walk dogs in parks and let them piss and shit on grass where kids play or people sit down.

and don't even get me started about dogs on beaches

I ghink dog owners should take collective responsibility for the lack of dog poo bins. There aren't enough and should be more. Or take responsibility for the lack of open space that has no specific purpose. Instead of assuming it's ok to use space set aside for non dog use to exercise your animal.

The number of dog owners who complain about the lack of provision but do nothing about it is ridiculous.

At the end of the day, if an area is abused by dog owners (not picking up shit, out of control dogs) there is a risk that all dogs could be banned. Which would not be fair.

So who should take responsibility for sorting the issue? Those who benefit from the status quo, of a pretty much free for all on dog walking in many areas. The dog owners.

Unless you would rather the haterz took responsibility

I have no issues, I live in the country. There are no issues with where to walk and dog bins!!! Thinking about it even when I go to more built up/public areas I rarely come accross dog poo. Why should I campaign etc??

@tinstar

such an ignorant and goady comment. None of that is true if a dog has a responsible owner

I agree :)

(Wasn’t me that made that comment)

Maybe because then there would be no more need for dog poo threads on MN? Then again, they are a MN classic.

Why should you campaign when you're a good dog owner?

because we are only aware of the bad dog owners and they are giving all dogs a bad name stirring up hatred against dogs which will lead to campaigns against dogs which will affect you.

Reallyanotherone - I'm SO sorry . Didn't register that you were quoting another poster

Wordthe
I really don't think so. I am responsible with my dog I don't lose sleep over what people may or may not think about dog owners.

Dogs are amazing. Nobody disputes that
I do. I utterly hate them. Used to visit people in their homes for work, the amount of people who expect any visitor to be thrilled when their mutt comes sniffing you. Ugh. At least close them in another room. Not all of us see dogs as 'part of the family'

The streets would be a better place without dogs. You want a companion, take it to shit in your own garden. Or better still, don't have one unless you can afford a decent enough space for it to exercise in. Don't subject your choices to keep an animal on the rest of society. It's disgusting to have to deal with animal mess.

Pigeons and rats are probably a bigger problem.

I think it just needs to be more regulated and dogs are unable to be residents of homes that do not have a certain % of green space surrounding them. Unless they have a special licence like guide dogs, which includes other dogs that have gone through the same training and can control where they poo.

In areas with enough green space it would be ideal to actually have dog areas designated and then also have some areas where dogs are completely banned from going.

I think that increasing regulations will have a knock on effect of raising awareness of the general issues and hopefully encourage people to pick up their dogs poo. I think people are getting lazy about it and not bothering.

I think it will become more of an issue in the future, especially considering the prediction of increased diseases.

Also I have to say that I can't think of a single time I saw a person poo (or wee) in a park!! And nappies as litter is not an issue either.

Dog poo is reducing our enjoyment of grass areas and open space. And the poo stays around a long time. I remember a particular incident on the footpath (so not even grass) when I was walking to work. This dog made a huge poo in front of me (owner just walked off) I then had to walk past that poo for weeks!

About the wild animals. The only poo that I even notice other than dog poo is pigeon poo.

Also when visiting countryside I don't remember farm/animal poo disrupting my enjoyment at all. There is more space for poo to be distributed over.

Dog poo is a big problem in cities because there is limited grass.

But even when the poo is picked up immediately, there are still toxoplasmosis bacteria on the grass and in the soil. So kids still at risk.
Why should we have to be anywhere near dog mess, anywhere? It's not necessary. On country walks near us there are dog toilet areas, but people don't always use them for their dogs. You see plastic bags of shit hanging from trees-like wtf, why even bother picking it up?!
Are the bags even biodegradable?
Agree with PP. There is more shit on the street now than years ago when nobody even had pooper scoopers. It's a national disgrace. I go to France regularly and you don't see it there the same.

it seems to me that the dog population has increased significantly since everyone felt they had to pick up the shit
I imagine that people who were prospective dog owners felt that this meant the country could accommodate more dogs because the shit was now picked up?

Yes I agree with you Jamie, but unfortunately I think dogs are too engrained in our culture to be banned completely. So there needs to be tighter regulations. I would love to know how other countries regulate it better.

Also agree about the remnants/smear that remains even when a poo has been picked up. It's very disconcerting to choose an area of grass that is visibly free from dog poo, to sit down and then to suddenly smell dog poo but not be able to see it!

The dog population increased because they became fashion accessories.

Dogs are here to stay.

Deal with it.

Dogs should be banned in cities they are disgusting and uncivilised. Dog shit is a national crisis the streets are utterly vile

A national crisis? Where the bloody hell do you live? I almost never see dog poo on the street where I live in the UK
I think you’re all getting a bit hysterical now. Calm down....