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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

about leaving bagged dog poo to collect later?

171 replies

SquigglyLine · 14/06/2015 07:41

I am partially sighted and have recently (a few months ago) got my first guide dog. We have a routine where he 'spends' (i.e. poos) at home before we go out. He needs to go twice in the morning.

Occasionally he's not ready to do his second one before we set off on the school run, or occasionally needs to do an 'extra' one. It happened quite often when I first got him, but as we've settled into the routine it's only occasional - it happened last week, but hadn't happened for over a month before that.

Anyway, when that happens, I bag up the poo and leave it out of the way, up against the wall, to collect on my way home. There are no bins on the way to school (residential streets) and I can't take it into school with me. I always take careful note of where I place it (as my sight's not good enough to just notice it on the way back), and I always collect it on the way back.

On Thursday there was a dog walker coming past when I was bagging up the poo and putting it against the wall. The DC said that he stared at me and said something but they didn't hear exactly what he'd said. I didn't notice him.

On my way back, the poo bag wasn't there. I know it definitely was missing and not just me not seeing it, because DC2 was with me (not well enough to go to school but had to walk with us). I am now a bit worried that the dog walker (or someone else) thought I was just abandoning the bag!

AIBU for bagging and leaving to collect on return? It is always well out of the way tucked in where no-one would accidentally tread on it, and not left for very long.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 14/06/2015 14:02

Calm down, Coola Hmm

Pretty sure I'm the only person who referred to 'pigs', and I wasn't talking about the OP.

plummyjam · 14/06/2015 14:05

I don't think yabu, you sound like a conscientious dog owner. Unfortunately I don't think other people will see it that way, especially if you are seen leaving the poo and they don't know you are coming back for it.

What about this? Could you clip it to the dog's harness?

On a lighter note, my mum's dog usually does a poo right outside her house as they set off for a walk. She bags it up then flings it over the hedge onto her front lawn for her to bin when she gets back.

Unfortunately one day she missed and lobbed it into her next door neighbour's driveway as she was just about to get into her car. My mum had to sheepishly run up the drive and collect it, whilst trying to explain to neighbour why she was hurling bags of dog shit at her and trying not to die laughing at the same time Grin

ProudAS · 14/06/2015 14:13

Apologies if this has been discussed but I have not RTFT.

The laws about cleaning up after dogs are there for a reason (and I am more affected than most by the sight and smell of poo). However, I am under the impression that individuals with visual impairments are exempt from the law. Colleague's guide dog is trained to go on the lawn at home and her DH picks it up.

Smellyoulateralligator · 14/06/2015 15:11

Lotus, well done for using copy and paste, nevertheless 'Muslims' don't want to ban dogs from this country. Don't tar everyone with your dog hating brush.

Fatmomma99 · 14/06/2015 15:22

I wasn't trying to be nasty to Squiggly, and I do understand (and did acknowledge) that it's extra hard with young ch + visual impairment.

But this thread is a question, and I'm really sorry but to me, no it's not reasonable to leave a bag of poo. This is because there are SO many bags left uncollected. Not by me (except once [shame]), and not by the poster. People seeing her walk off and leave the bag will not necessarily assume that she will be back later to collect and won't necessarily see her collect it. So it adds the negative picture people may have of 'irresponsible dog owners'.

I'm sorry if that's upsetting for anyone, but I was asked a question on a public forum and I've answered it with my pov.

Fatmomma99 · 14/06/2015 15:22

lotus Biscuit

Sheitgeist · 14/06/2015 15:36

Am absolutely Shock that so many of the posters here do not take into account that OP is partially sighted, OP's dog is a GUIDE DOG and that she has needs hands free and has children and all their gear to take to school. Truly horrible posts taking no account of OPs situation.

So many posts are based on the poster's annoyance about people in general who do this or who routinely don't pick up the bags after them.

This does not apply to the OP!

OP, you are already doing more than the law requires. YANBU

SaucyJack · 14/06/2015 15:44

I'm not taking it into account Sheitgeist, because it isn't relevant.

You can buy special dog poo carriers that clip on the the dog's harness or can be carried on a strap hands-free over the body.

There is an easy solution available.

HawkEyeTheNoo · 14/06/2015 15:44

Lotus.....ConfusedConfusedConfusedConfusedConfused WTAF!!?? You need a biscuit dear

Sheitgeist · 14/06/2015 15:53

Have some fecking sympathy, SaucyJack ! It is VERY relevant. Try going about your day to day activities partially sighted and with young children.

OP is not legally obliged to clear up, and she does. If you don't like the way she goes about it, tough.

Mintyy · 14/06/2015 16:17

Lotus - I am staggered that you could be so crass as to spout your stupid personal prejudices against dogs on a thread posted by a partially sighted person who needs a guide dog. For crying out loud.

CrohnicallyInflexible · 14/06/2015 19:50

I said this at the beginning of the thread- there is a solution called a Muksak. It's a container with a clip on lid, it has a rubber seal, nothing will escape. The container has a loop on the top and is sold with a lanyard so it can be hung off a rucksack with a carabiner or over your shoulder like a satchel. No need to put poo in your rucksack (though I have before with the Muksak and never had a problem). No one need know you are carrying a poo, they won't smell it. I've been stunk out of the car before by makeshift solutions, but I once forgot to empty my Muksak on the way home, and I didn't realise till the next time I used it. Once you've put the poo in, it's hands free.

Though I have to admit, I'm intrigued as to how you can't hold a poo bag on the way to school because you need one hand for the harness and one for signals, but you can on the way back?

CMOTDibbler · 14/06/2015 19:56

I have a Dicky bag which holds a full poo bag with no smell, so I can have it clipped to my bag.

But if I saw someone VI with a guide dog and small children leave a bag of poo, I'd assume they currently had their hands full and were returning for it - and would probably just pick it up and bin it myself.

TattyDevine · 14/06/2015 20:05

I don't think YABU to leave it and collect it. Its all about intention, and you intend to pick it up later, which you do. So you are basically doing the right thing. And your school routine sounds challenging enough to be honest. So I wouldn't feel bad.

However, other people will assume you are abandoning it, that is not unreasonable of them to assume.

Perhaps there is another solution, but if not, I'd carry on doing what you are doing, you will come back for it and its really not the end of the world if someone else sees it.

HawkEyeTheNoo · 14/06/2015 20:09

Chronically, it's probably due to the fact that on the way back she doesn't have two kids?

NeedsAsockamnesty · 14/06/2015 20:11

Wow, some people are arseholes and I really don't mean the op at all.

Op YANBU not at all not even a tiny little bit.

And to whoever is was who did the PA are you ok to lotus, it's not big and it's not funny, some posters have different styles it's perfectly ok to have a different style even if you did once own an island without someone else attempting to imply you have some sort of issue that may make you not ok.

MissDemelzaCarne · 14/06/2015 20:29

I can't believe anyone would say that your VI is "not relevant". Shock
I couldn't clean up dog poo with my eyes closed!

CrohnicallyInflexible · 14/06/2015 20:36

hawkeye but that's not the reason she gave. She said she needed one hand for the harness and one for hand signals. So even without kids, she has no hands free.

HuftysTrain · 14/06/2015 20:43

I have only become aware of this phenomenon recently, since we moved to a new area. The roads are littered with little plastic bags tied up and clearly containing dog poo. Utterly foul, filthy bastards to do this and I cannot believe all these bags belong to people with disabilities!

HamishBamish · 14/06/2015 20:53

I think it's absolutely rank. Dog owners should be responsible for their dogs and that includes dealing with their excrement. Simply putting it in a bag and leaving it doesn't cut it imo. As for the 'poo trees' words fail me. It's one of the most disgusting things I've ever had the misfortune to come across.

I have had dogs and now we don't have our own I often take care of my dad's. If one of them poos, I bag it and carry it with me. I don't leave it lying somewhere for other people to come across.

That said, in OP's case is different. She faces additional challenges which mean it's tricky for her. Guide dogs are a different case imo.

MikeEhrmentraut · 14/06/2015 21:07

For the people who are saying the OP is unreasonable though, and trying to think of any and all ways by which she could transport the bag of shit to school, what actually is it that offends you so much?

Why should the OP have to walk into school carrying a bag of crap, just because the sight of a small, tied black plastic bag tucked at the edge of the pavement offends your delicate sensibilities?

And as for saying you wouldn't know whether she is returning to collect it, well she's already said that she is ! So who cares what the impression is?

OP, you are doing more than enough and for anyone to suggest otherwise is ridiculous. The normal dog owners who bag up the mess and leave it hanging on a tree and don't come back for it are disgusting and should be ashamed - but that is a completely different situation!

On a side note, I haven't really encountered these 'poo trees' much, maybe once or twice , but I have to question why you would bother going through the rigmarole of bagging it at all if you were just going to hang it on a tree ?

maninawomansworld · 14/06/2015 21:16

Yes, sorry YABU.
If you're worried about leakage then you could double bag it.
In the winter it doubles up as a hand warmer!

1Morewineplease · 14/06/2015 21:18

Couldn't you take an extra carrier bag to put your dog's deposit in? No one at school will notice... If I'm honest I really hate this notion of hanging up dog poo on bits of shrubbery etc... I'm sure most dog owners have excuses but it looks really grim.. Live next to a lovely riverside walk but it is usually littered with a few dog poo bags by folk who may well have a really good reason why they can't be arsed to deal with it and those bags just stay there! Parish council is up in arms about it as they have to get someone to deal with it! I am sorry but like I said ... Take an extra carrier bag

MrsMook · 14/06/2015 21:19

Under general circumstances leaving a bag of poo lying around is grim. I wouldn't be comfortable leaving one for collection at risk of being forgotten.

However OP, these are not general circumstances and you have additional logistical complications, and the presence of the dog is a necessity.

Out of the various groups of people that are particularly inconvienienced by left dog mess, I'm sure that visually impaired people are pretty high on the list. The Op isn't doing this to be lazy.

CrohnicallyInflexible · 14/06/2015 21:26

What offends me (and I may be atypical here) is the slippery slope type argument.

If one person is seen to be 'getting away with it' (ie not following the rules, whether legal ones, moral ones, or just plain courtesy/social rules) then it encourages others without the extenuating circumstances to do the same.

If people come across a poo bag on a walk, they don't know that the person who left it there is a) going to come back and b) is visually impaired. They think 'oh, there's no bin nearby, someone else left their bag here, I'll do the same' it seems to be a lesser crime to leave a second bag there than the first.