To really, really resent the "dog mess" in my neighbourhood

[whataboutbob]

There are a fair few dog owners where I live and a good proportion are responsible. However there is also an element who just do not pick up after their dog. It's not a nice topic I know, but at any one time my street and the ones around it will be sporting several samples of dog poo.
I have contacted the council who made the following points: dog wardens only operate till 5 pm (I believe the irresponsible owners come out at night, go for a little walkies around the block and then home), dog bins cost £500 each so I shouldn't expect them to be putting new ones up around my 'hood (there are a few, but not many). They could put up some more notices: you know, those little stickers threatening an £80 fine. Which everyone ignores.
Has anyone successfully mounted an anti dog fouling campaign in their neighbourhood? Do you have any tips on what I can do to reduce the problem? At this point I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

[happymuddyboys]

I would happily pay towards the german idea and I am a non-dog owner! Let's campaign for it through mumsnet power.

[cerealqueen]

In the olden days dog poo was white, so at least you knew it was dog poo!

Good luck with your MP.

[whataboutbob]

Once again thanks everyone for your contributions. I am going to contact my MP and ask her if parliament is going to look at the DNA thing. Clearly the issue is something people feel strongly about and it blights neighbourhoods and has an impact on quality of life.I ll post again when I get answers.

[dayshiftdoris]

There is a lot of Fox Poo round here and cat poo... How do I know?

Well my Jack Russell loves to roll in fox offerings and eat cat offerings...

Who needs DNA testing - she'll sort the shit for free!

[cerealqueen]

YANBU, though where we live a lot of it is down to foxes. We had a fox shit in a milk bottle once.

[TapselteerieO]

Larahusky we have a cat, who always had access to litter tray but chose to go outside, her litter was always clean, she just preferred using my neighbours very weed free verge with little box hedges ( she did bury her crap though) but I was , we moved, she refuses to go out now, so I just have neighbours' cat crap, but it isn't anywhere near as bad as dog shit absolutely everywhere. Once scenic walks with dog shit, beaches with dog shit, parks with dog shit, pavements with dog shit- it is bad - sorry rant over!

[TapselteerieO]

I absolutely hate the people who leave their dog's shit, makes my blood boil. Particularly near schools, play parks and football fields.

We recently got a rescue pooch - I am at home with her, she gets out regularly into the garden and at least two walks a day, she usually craps in the back garden - not when we are out walking. But when I am out with her it is such a job constantly watching out for shit so we can both avoid it and walking to school I am constantly telling my children to avoid the dog crap.

If one dog owner let's their dog shit on a pavement/ verge every day then it soon builds up. We usually have three piles of shit to avoid on one side of our street, more on the way to school.

I reckon these dogs are so desperate to crap when they get out, they are shitting close to home, because they are in all day long - I never see it happening because it obviously happens at night/early morning. Or people drive the dog to the park, again the dog is desperate to crap, car park right beside play area/ football field dog craps as soon as it gets out of the car - all these kids playing football and their ball going in dog shit .

It only takes a few very irresponsible owners for the shit to build up, disgusting. If only there was a way to shame, or make these people pay. Like the DNA idea.

Did anyone see Kevin McLeod picking up dog shit on C4 programme when he built his shed - to create gas for fuel? I think towns could make gas - dog owner puts shit in bin, gets 10p per shit (maybe that is too much but you get the idea) from the dog poo collection machine... Then the town can have one street light fuelled by dog shit - dogs get to pee on lamp post their shit powers!?

[DyeInTheEar]

I have to ask this... are you 'allowed' to put dog poo (bagged) in a normal waste bin?

when I complained to the council that there wasn't a bin for dog owners to put poo bags in - they installed a normal bin. I'm not sure all dog owners realise this and expect to see a dog waste bin. I honestly think there needs to be a national advertising campaign. Like there used to be for litter in the 80s.

[Notcontent]

I live in North London and the amount of poo around here is shocking. My council had a campaign recently to improve things but it has made no difference. It's horrible. And I speak as a dog owner.

[DizzyZebra]

YANBU. I have a dog and its fucking annoying that we ALWAYS make sure he is cleaned up after, Only to take my toddler out and end up cleaning someone elses dogs shit off her shoes.

Lack of mess bins aren't an excuse IMO. More wouldn't solve it. They're just lazy arses and can't be arsed to do anything.

[Scootee]

I wish I lived in that town in Germany - genius.

[Pendeen]

"There is a town in Germany where each dog is chipped and DNA tested. In order to own a dog you must do this. You must pay for this. Any shite that is found in street is DNA tested and the owner is identified."

Well good news - it's going to happen here in the UK, the the first stage is coming soon: mandatory dog microchip

[CruCru]

Awesome sunflowers, I've just reported the dog shit in my street. Thanks!

[FeijoaVodkaAndCheezels]

Oh Moomins don't get me started in the leaving a bagged poo behind! Fouling and littering all in one go. Bleurgh!

[Moominsarehippos]

I hate it when they actually do bother to bag the poo... then either leave it next to a tree or decorate a nearby bush with all the pretty little baggies.

[Nagoo]

It has definitely got worse in the last year. I don't know why, but it has. It's like the 1980s.

[dayshiftdoris]

I have to ask this... are you 'allowed' to put dog poo (bagged) in a normal waste bin?

Had funny looks when I have in the absence of a dog poo bin

I always pick up tho I was once at a regular dog walking haunt desperate scrambling round for where my dog had done her business and was told by fellow dog walker not to bother as it wasnt the done thing to pick up at this particular area ... kids are often down there on bikes / people with prams, etc
(I managed to locate it by the power of steam in the end!)

[ToothGah]

Where I live, you can report the dog owner if you have a description of them, the dog, and when you saw them fail to clean up etc and action can be taken against them.

Councils would love to install hundreds of dog poo bins for people to use, but as pointed out they are expensive - plus you then need the staff to empty them regularly. The same for streetcleaning, you're talking hundreds of miles of pavements in an average town, let alone a borough, district or county - they can't clean everywhere regularly enough with the resources the council has.

Personally I hate the gimmicky spraying of dog poo/anti dog poo slogans on pavements, to me they just look graffiti themselves and I'd rather not see them.

Disgusting dog owners being reported and named and shamed is what we need. Good luck OP! :)

[Ilovesunflowers]

I haven't read the whole thread so this may already have been mentioned but you can report dog fouling on this website www.fixmystreet.com/

I did that for my street and they emailed me to say it will be cleared up soon. They also gave advice about where to report someone to if you know who is leaving the sh1t. Unfortunately I don't know who is doing it on my street.

YANBU. It is absolutely gross and the people who do it should be disgusted with themselves. Don't get a dog if you won't pick up the mess.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

Where we used to live we had a neighbour with an elderly cat. It didn't roam very far, usually as far as our garden where it would leave piles of shit everywhere. My dh, without any shame, would throw it back into the neighbours garden every time. Then they got a litter tray and the pooing stopped.

[DyeInTheEar]

My council tried to do something about it through dog poo patrols and fines but were roundly criticised (in daily mail and local press) for wasting huge amounts of money on the project. I fully supported it though though thought the £50 fine wasn't high enough. If they'd hung around on my street for a week and fined £500 they'd have been cost effective.

I've spoken to my council arguing if they can't prevent dog owners they must cure through regular street cleaning. I think part of the problem is dog owners see 4 bits of dog mess and think "ahh well, one more won't make any difference". There's a zero tolerance to fly tipping and graffiti - the same should apply to dog poo. Drives me absolutely nuts that nothing is done about it and that we tolerate it. I wouldn't let my toddler poo on the street. Councils need to get tough. The Government could fund a national campaign - an advertising campaign shaming dog owners and pointing out the health risks would be a start.

Apparently it's the most complained about thing to local councils.... am sure I've signed an epetition to get it debated in parliament at some point. I actually find it depressing going out with my DCs and buggy trying to dodge it all - and in the summer it's retch making.

[tazzle22]

I have two dogs but pick up all poo that emanates from their behinds ..... and I detest the owners that do not pick up after their pooches.

I think that german town has a great idea.. chipping and dna.

I dont know how its financed and that would be the problem....... just the same as with licences in the past ( I had one when they were required) The good and law abiding owners will comply and pay out money that is actually providing a "service" they will not benefit from in any way ........ its kinda penalising the wrong people !!!!. The ones that dont pay the licence / ship and dna the dogs will carry on getting off scott free unless its "policed" in that wardens / volunteers can go round and randomly check all dogs for chips to ensure they dna filed .???

Sounds like a good idea in principle....... would be interesting .. but in these austeres times would it be found too expensive to start it up ?