Neighbours complaining about reindeer food

[wasteful26]

Elder dc bought a bag of porridge on Xmas Eve to mix with glitter with their younger siblings and put out for the “reindeer”
As dc do on Xmas Eve they got carried away and as well as putting the food in our front garden they sprinkled it on the public road.
A neighbour who we do not know by name but to smile at had posted on the local FB page complaining about the mess which went over our heads but he then confronted dh in the street today when he was getting in his car.
Because of the old dry weather the porridge is still laying in the street.
Dh being his usual non diplomatic self wasn’t exactly friendly towards neighbour.
Ive no intentions of going out with a brush and shovel for what is a few handfuls of oats and it’s to rain in the next few days anyway but am wondering if this is something that others would be upset about in their street?

Of course you should clean it up but you will already know that. Of you couldn't be bothered maybe you should have supervised your children to start with and told them to put it on a container rather than throw it around. It's a horrid thing to do but that won't be new news to you.

FB community pages attract the whining, busybody, killjoy types. Most of those pages are used for shaming people by people in glass houses who think they are superior. Worst invention IMO.

I don’t see the big deal. I wouldn’t bow down to pressure in your shoes. The birds will probably eat it eventually.

Reindeer are feral pests here. We'd just shoot them.

I hope it wasn’t normal glitter, it’s really not on for animals or birds. Also what do you think rain is going to do to oats? Make it gloopy and even more of a mess. Stop being those dirty neighbours and get your brush out and next time keep a better eye on your child.

How ignorant to encourage kids to feed animals with glitter. I'm with your neighbours here 100%.

Glitter is litter and no good at all for wildlife. How are you not aware of that?

Way to encourage rats!. Clean it up.

Food can attract rats, clean it up.

@Fbfbfvfvv ‘The birds will probably eat it eventually’ - and come to harm or die, if it’s non-edible?

@wasteful26 Yes, you are being unreasonable and at the very least should be cleaning this up. Glitter shouldn’t be scattered in the first place though as it’s potentially lethal for animals. I have no idea why some people get annoyed or defensive when rightly challenged about littering.

When we walked our dog last night, we noticed a load of glitter on the pavement outside a house a few doors down from us and wondered why it was there. Now I probably have my answer!

At the time, we tried to get our dog to swerve it as my instinct was it’s bad for him, but it’s almost impossible to avoid and will no doubt be there for ages. It doesn’t biodegrade.

I’ve just Googled whether it’s bad for dogs and this is the response:

‘Yes, glitter can be bad for dogs; it's a choking hazard and can cause internal irritation or dangerous intestinal blockages if swallowed, requiring immediate vet attention, especially for small dogs’. I’m now quite concerned about our dog and other animals.

Please, get your children to clean up the mess, properly supervised by an adult, to minimise the possible harm that this could cause.

😱 Even Rudolph??

Your mess. Clear it up, and your husband should apologise.

I’m amazed that you took time to post on Mumsnet instead of getting your kids to sort out the mess they did. Also, wouldn’t a carrot and mince pie left on the kitchen table be sufficient?

Honestly OP, did you not think of the birds in winter when you sprinkled shit like glitter in the garden? The oats I couldn’t get too bothered about in YOUR garden, in public and neighbouring spaces it’s lazy not to clean it up. The glitter is the most ridiculous and self centred act ever. I bet your garden is a thing of beauty. Not.

I bet you don't pick up your dog's mess either.

Yes, this would annoy me. Not so much the mess, although it's irritating, as is your poor attitude to clearing it up, but more so you've mixed bloody glitter with it. Wildlife will be attracted to the oats and the glitter could be very harmful to them. Try teaching your kids about respecting the real animals around them (yes I know reindeer are real, but they don't fly and aren't in most uk residential streets).

You are being lazy and ignorant and teaching your kids it’s ok to not have any respect for wildlife and the people around you.
just clean it up and move on.

The kids scattered it - have them clear it up.

Rain won't make any difference - then it'll just be soggy oats and glitter in the road. And wildlife could eat the glitter. Give the kids the dustpan and tell them to get on with it.

I wouldn’t give a toss, what’s on the street is not my problem, so would ignore it.

@wasteful26 what kind of glitter is it?

why do you think it’s acceptable to leave the ‘overspill’ that’s not on your property to bother others?

You sound very entitled. Take 5 minutes of your day to do the right thing and clean it up.

I'm guessing this thread didnt go as IP intended!

Why can’t your kids put reindeer food out in a bowl? Baffling

It wouldn't bother me because of the mess but the fact it could attract rats certainly would as the potential glitter coils be ate by birds etc.

It’s a real issue for wildlife, but some people don’t give a shit about anything else as long as their precious offspring have fun.

Can I ask why you think you’re the reasonable ones in this situation? Sweep it up, it sounds completely disgusting