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.

Dogs should be banned in cities they are disgusting and uncivilised. Dog shit is a national crisis the streets are utterly vile I think it does sound like you are in crisis - are you ok? You seem to be really affected by this in quite an extreme way.

Let’s hope the government calls a Cobra meeting to deal with the national crisis that is dog poo.

Dogs are here to stay.Deal with it
No. Why should we when dog owners choices impact on every street in Britain, its an embarrassment and demonstrates an utter disregard of dignity and respect. Iver time, if dogs were neutered when vaccinated there would be less dogs for the uneducated lazy owners through accidental breeding and mean that the owners who make the effort to care for their dogs look after the environment-as many do.

This is what a town in Spain did - pretty hardcore: www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/return-to-sender-spanish-towns-solution-to-the-dog-mess-problem-send-it-back-to-the-owners-8645321.html

Between my two dogs and their walks we average at least 5 shits a day. Really large ones.

What can you do about it?

What's the point of a full poo bag on the pavement?

Make people like you leave cities when walking your animals so they can shit 5 times

Or just ban dogs as pets, not difficult really

Oh sorry, that’s 5 each on a good day.

I should point out that I am not in favour of posting dog mess back to owner. Think of the poor posties!

Chardonnay, I'd suggest you rehome your dogs with a more responsible owner. If you can't manage their poo, then are you really caring for their welfare properly?

I see where you’re coming from OP. There just seems to be more dogs around generally than when I was growing up in the 90s. Hardly anyone I went to school with had dogs, there was only 2 houses in my village had dogs where as now there are lots in that village now etc and I also don’t remember seeing badly behaved dogs either. I think that a previous poster may have it right about them being fashion accessories and there are also a lot of people who just get dogs now without thinking about the long term and the work needed to look after them and shape them into well behaved animals or the costs or the fact they need picked up after

I don’t have a dog or a cat for that matter because I haven’t got the time to dedicate to a dog but also because I don’t want to have to pick up crap

I've changed my mind about dog ownership after talking to a former colleague who was very serious about his dogs, and realising just how much attention and care dogs need to be happy and healthy.

It's just not fair to an innocent animal for people to treat them as a toy that they can shut away for 16 hours a day, instead of a very social animal that requires companionship for a significant part of each day, training, regular vet care, etc.

The current level of dog ownership just isn't compatible with a commuter society. We should have fewer dog owners, not more - more dog ownerships means more miserable animals, whose owners probably gush about their fur babies on Facebook but who are not caring for them adequately and do not deserve to be allowed to mistreat a pet that way.

I think we should have dog parks, or divide up existing parks. Everywhere I’ve ever lived, the local park has been ruined by dog shit. I didn’t take my kids to the park much for this reason and wouldn’t sit on the grass in public because of it.

What about the cats that poo everywhere, and it’s not picked up. What about the rabbits, mice and rats, voles, moles and the rest that will wee and poo across the lovely green grass, not to mention bird shit falling from the sky. It’s life, it happens. Admittedly I get cross when dog owners don’t pick up ( not to mention the lovely doo poo bag trees that grow in this area ). Mine does go in the garden, but also sometimes on walks. When a dogs gotta poo it’s gotta poo regardless of where it is

I have two dogs, and one of them will never, ever poo in our garden. He sees the garden as an extension of our house and his 'turf' so he will not shit in it. We also walk our dogs 3 times a day, every day without fail and expecting them not to go to the toilet in public during those 3 walks is utterly ridiculous.

I believe service dogs are trained to toilet in specific areas but for the average dog owner it's unrealistic. FWIW, I ALWAYS pick up after my dogs. They are fed a good raw diet and so their poos are small and solid, I can assure you that they leave a hell of a lot less 'remnants' than some humans and their brats who litter their crap everywhere.

It does seem true that dog ownership is becoming more popular after years of it losing favour, you can call that fashion I suppose as it's a trend over time. It must be frustrating for people who really hate dogs because increasingly dogs are allowed to go everywhere their owners go - pub, restaurant, cafe, hotels - even John Lewis now!!! Dogs are big business!
Our dog brings so much joy to our lives. Dh who never liked dogs, was even slightly scared is besotted and now enjoys dogs in general. My sister was the same - hated dogs, then got one for her dd and is now besotted.
They are brilliant for hormonal teenagers - they put a smile on everyone's face, our dog makes our life better, he can be hard work at times - picking up poo is really not hard - it's less yucky that changing a nappy, don't understand why dog owners don't do it. And my dog makes so many other people smile too, old people find an excuse to stop for a chat when they haven't spoken to anyone all day, he gets so much attention from loads of people.
I really feel for people who fear dogs because they have become so ubiquitous in our society and it's a tricky phobia to get help with - dd was terrified when she was small - getting our dog brought her phobia to an end.
How many people actively hate dogs...it sounds extreme and miserable.

And my dog makes so many other people smile too
That old chestnut
I bet youre one of those who's dogs ruin picnics and tell people not to worry because 'hes sooo friendly'
I say to my kids look at the lovely dog. Bloody hate them just dont want the kids to be frightened. Doesnt mean your dog makes others happy!

@JamieOliversChickenNugget, he has never ruined a picnic, sorry to disappoint, he just makes people smile because he is so bloody lovely, I understand that's hard for you to get your head around with all that hatred spinning around in there.
Seriously all that hate can't be good for you, it must have an effect on your health. Is it just dogs you hate or has your hatred spread to other aspects of your life? Where did is all originate from?

I help out at junior park run. It is held in a park. Every week we have to walk the route and pick up dog poo.

My son plays football every Sunday. Every Sunday the parents have to pick up dog poo on the pitch.

I agree we need separate areas for dogs in parks.

The current level of dog ownership just isn't compatible with a commuter society. We should have fewer dog owners, not more - more dog ownerships means more miserable animals, whose owners probably gush about their fur babies on Facebook but who are not caring for them adequately and do not deserve to be allowed to mistreat a pet that way

I feel that the pet industry is largely to blame for the increase in dog ownership, they encourage pet owners to see pets as equivalent to humans because this is the best way to get people to spend more money on their pets

Cat ownership is also problematic as far as my understanding goes they do predate heavily on wildlife, not to mention shitting in everyone's gardens which is disgusting and infuriating

I think it is very hard if you love dogs and love their company, to admit that your lifestyle does not suit having a pet, but if you insist on getting a dog that cannot possibly be happy with you, you don't actually love the dog as a companion animal that much.

I think fashion accessories and wanting to express your identity is a lot of what's going on with the increase in dog ownership

Used to be that if you considered yourself a 'dog person' you would have one or maybe two, nowadays you need a whole pack of dogs to feel as if you are a 'dog person'
then if someone else gets more dogs than you you have to go one better get more dogs or more impressive dogs

so yes, a large amount of 'dog one-upmanship' going on
I also see people who seem to be sliding into animal hoarding disorders

I think the pet industry is working hard to make people feel as if you have to have a dog to make your family complete and this is why it's hard for people to accept that actually it's just cruel to have dogs in their personal domestic circumstances

Wanting to have a certain image and feel as if your family lives up to a certain status becomes more important than the wellbeing of the animal

No leave just dogs. As a child i used to walk across a meadow after school and got shit on my shoes regularly. It made me feel sick and still does. 40 years of ruining shoes, its a pisstake.
The smell makes me retch. I have thrown away brand new shoes my kids have got shit on. In a society where clearing human shit out of reach us so necessary, I dont understand why nothing is being done about what is a real problem, other than the odd poxy sign that is ignored. It is blindingly obvious why people have problems with dogs and why.
It wasnt me who called children brats surely that is more hating.
And it is dogs which affect peoples health. Allergies, toxoplasmisis, blindness, biting, phobias.
The world would be a better place without dogs. No further hatred, just want clean streets which are safe for humans.