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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Councils should start taxing dog owners

287 replies

NigelGresley · 03/12/2018 18:10

In order to afford more dog wardens and have more resources to deal with those people who don’t pick up after their dogs.

I live in what would be considered to be a nice area, however it seems that half the dog owners can’t be bothered to pick up after their dogs and the streets are an absolute mess. I’m absolutley sick of it.

Our council has to make even more cuts over the next year, which will be felt more severely than any others in the past as this is now going to seriously impact social care, SEN provision, social work etc.... councils could generate additional income to deal with the problem caused by irresponsible dog owners.

You’ll probably ask how is it fair for all dog owners to be penalised due to a “minority”. However you could apply this argument to many other areas that we all collectively pay for, but may not benefit from.

So it’s time to take action to deal with dirty dog owners once and for all!!

OP posts:
WeeCheekyBird · 03/12/2018 18:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WeeCheekyBird · 03/12/2018 18:13

Typos due to auto correct. Point still stands.

Surfskatefamily · 03/12/2018 18:13

I totally agree. Have to walk down 'dog shit alley' to get to my local place of beauty for a walk with my baby and such a shame.

OrcinusOrca · 03/12/2018 18:14

YABU. Councils should tax parents.

redsummershoes · 03/12/2018 18:15

yanbu
plus mandatory insurance

AutumnCrow · 03/12/2018 18:15

Just bringing back the dog license would help.

I've got cctv now pointing at my front gate as a deterrent.

Feefeetrixabelle · 03/12/2018 18:15

I read somewhere that one council is fining dog owners/walkers if they are unable to produce a means of disposal (poo bag etc). I’m a dog owner and I like that idea. If you have a bag your likely to use it.

FissionChips · 03/12/2018 18:15

How would it actually be enforced? It’s not like people register dogs.

explodingkittensexpansion · 03/12/2018 18:16

here the early morning dog walkers pick up all of the abandoned take away food boxes and put them in the bin. Should I charge the council for this?

BollocksToBrexit · 03/12/2018 18:17

YABU

If dog owners have to pay extra tax for the council to clean up dog mess, nobody would pick up. Why would they? They've paid the tax for somebody else to do it.

So why punish responsible owners? The ones causing the problem wouldn't register themselves or their dogs anyway.

RumbleDoll · 03/12/2018 18:18

I live in the New Forest and usually kick my border collies poo into the hedgerows, with all the pony poo.I'm a horse owner too.Much better than hanging it from trees in bags.

Happypie · 03/12/2018 18:18

I completely agree with you. I am sick to the back teeth of my boy getting shit all over his shoes and having to clean shit off the pram wheels.

I think all dogs should be DNA registered and their DNA registered to their owners. Warders could track down the offenders through the poo. The wardens could be paid for by a tax on dog owners.

Also the fines should be 20% of the dog owners income and the owners should be banned from keeping dogs for life.

RB68 · 03/12/2018 18:19

Actually if they policed the shitters and fined them what they are supposed to then they wouldn't have a problem

RB68 · 03/12/2018 18:19

Fines are 1K

Whompthatwillow · 03/12/2018 18:20

By that logic parents should pay a child tax. That would be easier to enforce too and about as popular.

TheOxymoron · 03/12/2018 18:20

I have no words! Confused

RB68 · 03/12/2018 18:20

Oh and its the law to microchip so yes they are registered but you will find the shitters are the ones that don't do that either

Unicornandbows · 03/12/2018 18:21

Yabu

Iamtheoneandonly2018 · 03/12/2018 18:21

Today 18:15 Feefeetrixabelle

I read somewhere that one council is fining dog owners/walkers if they are unable to produce a means of disposal (poo bag etc). I’m a dog owner and I like that idea. If you have a bag your likely to use it*
Does this happen when you're out and about?!what if you've just used your last one?
In my local park, locals have placed ( new )dog poo bags at the entrance in case someone doesn't have one. Doesn't seem to stop some people not picking up after their dog though.

treaclesoda · 03/12/2018 18:21

You have to have a dog licence where I am. It's only a tiny fee so it doesn't raise any money but it does help a bit with tracking down irresponsible owners. And if they're so irresponsible that they don't have the license they are fined for that as well.

wishingitwasfriday · 03/12/2018 18:23

What about dog owners who don't have kids? Surely they pay enough tax that they don't get benefit from (education, extra nhs services etc).
Your argument is flawed unless there is a pay per use/service.

Original poster
NigelGresley · 03/12/2018 18:23

Do you just join anonymous forums to be obnoxious to people, or are you always like that WeeCheekyBird ?

Should we also tax cat owners for letting their cats out to poo in people gardens?
Well, maybe that too.

What about taxing all adults due to a small minority of drunk people peeing in the streets on a Friday night?
Well we’re already taxed for their clean up bill aren’t we! Last time I checked, nobody was at risk of catching a disease or going blind due to peeing in the street. If my son stood in someone’s piss I wouldn’t have to spend half an hour cleaning his shoes. Not the same is it?

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 03/12/2018 18:24

I would happily pay for a dog licence/dog tax, but not for the reasons in the OP. If it would deter people breeding irresponsibly from their dogs or taking on a dog with no real thought which is then neglected or rehomed, I would be all for it.

You’ll probably ask how is it fair for all dog owners to be penalised due to a “minority”. However you could apply this argument to many other areas that we all collectively pay for, but may not benefit from.

Yes, that's how taxes work. I pay for lots of things I don't and will never use. Why should responsible dog owners pay tax and non-dog owners pay no tax, when neither are contributing to the problem?

MamaLovesMango · 03/12/2018 18:24

Better idea. All of that could be covered by council tax.

Oh wait....

Penninepain · 03/12/2018 18:25

ODFOD.
ilive in the country. I have two dogs and walk them in various locations, a couple of times a day. Know what I end up doing?

Picking up shit. Left by .... humans???? Black bin liners full of bin shit (mostly ready food containers) and taking pics and reporting fly tipping by fecking wonderful humans.

Dogs shit. Owners, in the whole, pick it up. Some dont - fucking tell them! But honestly, the crap that humans leave is fucking disgusting, so no,the council should start making more effort to prosecute fly tippers, as well as dog shit no pick uppers.

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