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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dog shit everywhere :(

96 replies

HandbagKrabby · 06/03/2018 12:32

Just took my baby for a nice walk through piles and piles of dog shit. I counted 20 dog shits in the 100 yards around my house, loads more elsewhere. No one on my street has a dog.

Aibu to think it’s not just a tiny minority of irresponsible dog owners who don’t clean up after their dogs?

OP posts:
Beamur · 08/03/2018 14:05

If I could invent a solution to this I'd be rich! Picked up 2 of my own dogs poops yesterday, a bagged poo left next to the bin (why?) and another poo left on the floor in front of the bin..
It is worse this time of the year because most of the helpful insects that dispose of poo aren't out yet (slugs Hoover it up)
I have seen my cats in my garden digging a little hole in the snow to poop, whereas they usually dig in the soil. So as the snow melts, poo is revealed. Lovely.

Hidingtonothing · 08/03/2018 14:09

No excuse for it whatsoever (and I say that as a dog owner) but what really gets me in our area is the amount on the pavement outside my local school. How anyone can think it's ok to leave it where they know children have to walk every day is beyond me. It's disgusting wherever but outside a school just seems so completely selfish, inconsiderate and irresponsible I can't get my head around it at all Angry

Blubbergalore · 08/03/2018 14:26

Totally agree with RoadToRivendell, DNA database with licensing to fund it, would go a long way to completely solving the problem.
Waitng at traffic lights I once saw a woman letting her dog crap on the pavement, I watched as she pulled out some newspaper which I thought she was going to use to pick up the pile. No, she proceeded to wipe the dog’s arse with it then threw down the newspaper and walked off!!

RoadToRivendell · 08/03/2018 14:51

I think it's fair to say that our elected representatives underestimate not only how angry people get about this, but how emboldened ASBO-types become by leaving poo behind twice a day, every day. I live near a fellow who likes to let his dog poo right in front of my house, while smirking and calling me a cunt at my request that he pick it up.

Why should I be left to deal with this guy on my own?

It's kind of the same principle as animal abuse and child abuse - we crack down on it not only in defense of animals (a worthy cause in its right), but also because it's highly correlated with the latter. Same with dog poo and ASBO type shite that ruins neighbourhoods.

RoadToRivendell · 08/03/2018 15:01

There are several culprits/suspects but as no one has reported or sometimes can identify them. The council wont do anything.

This is why I have zero faith in government. They're surely capable of dealing with the issues that suit them, e.g. parking tickets - but incapable of dealing with anything that doesn't serve their interests.

I think it's pretty easy to treat the issue of dogs just as we do cars, but for some reason, no one wants to deal with it.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 08/03/2018 15:15

I frequently see naice looking middle class and "young professional" dog owners not watching their dog - the dog is 50metres behind them - and not seeing it poo. When I catch them up to tell them they try to deny it was their dog or say "I'll pick it up later" which they don't. Maybe they think their dog never poos.

I do also see intimidating looking men with tough dogs and people from the local estate leaving poo, but it's definitely not just one demographic.

When I do see owners picking up poo they fairly often look at me before they do, so I do wonder if they are only doing it because someone is there. Not all owners obviously, but some. (Or maybe they have seen me watching them out the corner of my eye!)

I'm sad that my toddler has developed a real eye for dog poo and shouts "poo! Watch out!" whenever we pass one, obviously learnt from me. When she was younger we had many a walk spoilt by dog poo. The time she got it on her coat and hands and we had to drop into a friend's house to wash asap. Or when her new wellies got covered in it and I had to leave them in the garage as I couldn't get it all off with her crying hysterically and trying to grab them back. I find it in the children's playground where dogs aren't even allowed.

Even when I see responsible owners picking it up it often leaves a smear on the pavement especially if soft poo. Often the pavement is covered in these smears and you can't avoid them with a pram (or wheelchair).

I really think dogs pooing where we walk is disgusting. I read that guide dogs are trained to hold their poo until in a certain place, it would make sense to buy breeds that can be trained like this if you want to walk your dog in a residential area. In Japan years ago I saw dogs wearing nappies in cities which I thought nuts at the time, but now it makes sense. I just don't see how it's acceptable to have smelly poo that can contain harmful parasites where people regularly walk.

Kikashi · 08/03/2018 15:26

I used to live in a garden square in a naice area. In the small public park opposite dog owners often let their dogs "play" in the childrens palyground on the equipment early in the morning despite there being a dedicated dog area (which I guess they found lacking as there were no slides and tunnels)

When it was even slightly wet or dark it the evenings cars would pull up outside our house, open the door and let their dogs out and then whistle for them to come back after 5 or 10 minutes.

I did confront some people but naturally got a load of abuse. The nearby woods are unusable to me now for walks due to the poo trees with bursting bags of poo set to rain down on ones head. Last time I was there were 5 dog walker vans parked and I counted a total of 60 dogs roaming in packs off leads. The dogwalkers did have bags on their belts but I didn't see them being used. Foul.

missbattenburg · 08/03/2018 16:22

Another dog owner here who just cannot understand people leaving it.

I also am pretty upset that people suspect I/other owners are lying about picking it up or only do so when watched.

I can swear on the life of my dog that I pick his poop up regardless of who is watching. I have multiple bags on me when we walk but even if I were ever caught without one I would use anything to hand to remove or make safe the mess. This might include using my boot to push it further into the undergrowth and/or pulling up leaves and grass to bury it. We walk regularly across countryside and there is rarely anyone else there to 'police' me. It makes no difference to my behaviour and I pick it up and put the bag in my pocket. Do I like having sh*t in my pocket? No I blooming well don't but it is my responsibility to deal with it.

I am also angry and frustrated when I see other people's mess left. It is just as disgusting for me to walk among it as it is for any non-dog owner and it is distressing because it gives us all a bad name. I perhaps pay too much attention because I have noticed that the dog mess I do see is often of a regular colour/size/consistency suggesting it is the same few dogs time and time again.

I'd also support a licensing/DNA scheme and would be happy to pay a reasonable amount to include my own dog. Personally, I think it should include a basic behaviour/welfare/training/law test to ensure owners have the rudimentary knowledge about how to take care of a dog and what their responsibilities are.

ArkAtEee · 08/03/2018 17:10

Do you live in St Werberghs? Must be dog poo capital of Britain.

gluteustothemaximus · 08/03/2018 17:21

Given the amount of shit on the pavements, I can't work out why threads on taking your shoes off indoors is such a ludicrous idea. Take your shoes off; they'll be traces of dog shit even from cleared up ones.

The park is a dog's toilet basically. Always telling the kids to 'watch out!' when walking.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 08/03/2018 17:26

Ark I thought the dog poo capital of Britain was Wemyss Bay.

ScattyCharly · 08/03/2018 18:42

We can’t use our local park. Covered in shit. There ought to be separate parks imo. They’re all ruined.

PositivelyPERF · 08/03/2018 18:54

When I do see owners picking up poo they fairly often look at me before they do, so I do wonder if they are only doing it because someone is there.

You’d think that about me, if you saw me, but I’m actually checking that no other dogs are approaching before I bend down. I’ve been pulled over by my dogs, because another dog has appeared and wants to play. I’m also checking all the dogs and calling them over. It’s amazing how they learn to come straight over, when I shout “POOP DUTY!” I’ve probably just outed myself to other dog owners. 😆

I also carry a bottle of soapy water for the skid marks, though to be fair, my clients tend to give their dogs good food and the poo is easy to pick up. I advise clients on their dog’s diets, if they have nasty poops. 🤢 The only time I ever have to use it is if a dog is ill.

PositivelyPERF · 08/03/2018 19:11

ScattyCharly I actually agree with you. I’d love it if we had separate parks, as it would make it easier for dog/litter wardens to ‘police’ bad dog owners. It would also prevent assholes, like the one I met last week, from going out of their way to walk through the middle of my dogs, then start shouting abuse about them being in his way. Six foot dickhead caught on very very quickly that he was picking on the wrong ‘little woman’. 🤣

Thought I think you need to keep in mind that, at least around here, the council would jump at the chance to sell the smaller parks for property development. If dog walkers are banded completely and stop using the park they can say the footfall doesn’t justify the cost of running the park. A compromise could be onlead in the main walking area and a corner for oflead exercise.

Incrediblehulky · 08/03/2018 19:23

We have to step over and avoid multiple piles of disgusting dog shit on the way to school. It makes me feel sick when you can see it's all been trod in by other kids already and it must be on their shoes - especially revolting when the younger kids all sit on the carpet to eat their snack. What also really annoys me is when dog owners put it in the bags and then just leave the shit bag on the street - this baffles me. The whole thing enrages me AngryAngry

LadyBundleBrent · 08/03/2018 19:31

Grrr dog owner who picks up here.

And approached and told off (in front of my mortified husband) a couple who were tying a bag of shit to a tree on a walk. It actually enrages me to a degree i cant even articulate.

nong45 · 08/03/2018 19:45

I have a dog poo alley / footpath right outside my house, it's awful. I'm not a dog owner, I don't mind dogs at all but I think there are just too many irresponsible owners. I do community litter picks and the amount of rubbish people chuck out of cars and poo bags we pick up is awful. The Council are useless/cashless. Something really needs to be done to change people's mentality. I worry too though about all the little plastic bags of poo that will take an eternity to rot. Are they biodegradable?

citychick · 09/03/2018 05:19

stormwhale
Many public loos are squat downs, not sit downs. It takes a bit of practice to avoid falling in!
They stink terribly. As you can imagine.
Sometimes people like to use sit downs as squat downs as you find shoe print marks on the loo seat. They often miss and as many are used to having someone clean up after them, just walk away.

Horrible.

Fancy shopping mall loos can be rather lovely, tho. Hit and miss. Not for the faint hearted.

I often think that animals are cleaner than humans. Cats cover over their mess. Humans here just walk away...🤮

Rainatnight · 09/03/2018 08:32

gluteus I couldn't agree with you more. I'm all for shoes off for the reason that they must all be covered in a fine film of dog shit, and who wants that in the house? But it's an ongoing battle with DP. Sigh.

MollyHuaCha · 09/03/2018 10:11

Where I live, some people bag the poo then leave it on garden walls, behind street telephone junction boxes, under trees etc.

No idea why they would go to the trouble of doing the tricky part (picking up the poo) then not finishing the job by popping the bag in the designated bins.

gluteustothemaximus · 09/03/2018 10:37

Rainatnight

Maybe he would read this?

www.wimp.com/heres-the-scientific-reason-not-to-wear-your-shoes-inside-the-house-anymore/

Dirtier than a toilet seat. Yuck.

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