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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:
purplegoat · 04/12/2018 22:07

The amount of dog shit hasn't increased. I remember how much was everywhere in the 80s before picking it up was really a thing.

There's barely any about these days.

If a person becomes hypersensitive to something, they over egg it in their own mind.

masterandmargarita · 04/12/2018 22:12

Dog ownership has gone up in the area I live in. Therefore so has dodge the dog shit.

KnittingSister · 04/12/2018 22:12

I always take 3 poo bags with me. On the rare occasion when the third bag is used, I don't tie it completely, just in case I need to used it again. Never happened yet.

Redskyandrainbows67 · 04/12/2018 22:14

YES op yanbu

And have more dog free parks - no I do not like your dog! Keep it away from me and my kids.

MakeAHouseAHome · 04/12/2018 22:15

Redskyandrainbows, how bout you keep your kids away from me and my dog... I am just as entitled to use the park as you are.

Redskyandrainbows67 · 04/12/2018 22:16

It’s your dog that runs over - not my kids!

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/12/2018 22:16

I pay council tax.

I have no children in full time education, so can I have a rebate if I have to pay dog tax?

Redskyandrainbows67 · 04/12/2018 22:17

And yes you are entitled to use Park - but not your dog.
All dog owners think everyone loves their dog - they are a nuisance to everyone but you.

masterandmargarita · 04/12/2018 22:17

Make a house - I doubt you're gonna be stepping in our kids shit. Don't be childish

Redskyandrainbows67 · 04/12/2018 22:18

Only if your dog will become a doctor or teacher or something useful to society...

WendyWoofer · 04/12/2018 22:20

Masterandmargarita

Wendy - they feel entitled to let their dogs shit all over public spaces without clearing it up, or bagging it and then leaving it

Only in your mind do ALL dog owners allow their dogs to shit ALL over public places. Where do you live? I have never seen dog shit smeared all over a public path and I'm out with my dogs three times a day!

Maybe you need to take it up with your council and ask them how they can help with with the dog shit problem in YOUR area?

purplegoat · 04/12/2018 22:24

So can we charge all the parents whose children don't end up being useful in society?

And my dog would never run up to anyone given she is frightened of people. She's always on a lead as she'd run away if she wasn't and I've lost count of the amount of kids that have run up to her or screamed in her face or tried to pat her without asking.
Every time this happens it sets us back several steps in our ongoing work to make her less frightened.

And to me she's had a lot more value than any offspring of the pearl clutching over exaggerators on this thread.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/12/2018 22:26

Blimey, Redsky now I'm not allowed to use the park with my dogs?

There are children who shit there with their mothers who piss in the bushes, but I suppose that's ok as long as the dogs won't go there.

Barking.

WendyWoofer · 04/12/2018 22:26

All dog owners think everyone loves their dog - they are a nuisance to everyone but you

I don't expect everyone to love my dogs. In fact I have spent hours training my dogs to not approach people or other dogs. I don't want my dogs approaching humans or other dogs. It's much easier if they don't. Hard work initially but much easier in the long run.

What's your point?? Why do you think all dog owners allow their dogs to approach others? Why would they want them to??

masterandmargarita · 04/12/2018 22:30

Kids pissing in the bushes? Really? thats equivalent to all the thousands of dogs pissing and shitting up any lamp post in any street?

otterturk · 04/12/2018 22:30

Oh fuck off

purplegoat · 04/12/2018 22:34

Everyone agrees that dog shit shouldn't be left and picked up and despite what people think on this thread (because it doesn't suit their argument) it's a minority who don't pick it up.
My freaking out about piss? Come onHmm as soon as it rains it's all washed away. You'd see more human piss on a Friday night in any city than you would a dogs.
Don't lick the lampposts and you'll be fine.

Seriously, how did we reach the point where anyone who doesn't like something immediately says "ban it!" Or "tax it!" It's just absurd.

BumDisease · 04/12/2018 22:37

^Because nothing brings out the crazy on MN like a dog thread!

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/12/2018 22:38

No, the children are shitting, it's their trollied mums who are pissing.

RebelWitchFace · 04/12/2018 22:44

How about we ban stupid people? Much more useful.

Wordthe · 04/12/2018 22:45

I suppose we should be grateful that we dont have pack of feral dogs like they do in some countries.

That must be pretty frightening

RebelWitchFace · 04/12/2018 22:49

@Wordthe you get used to it after a while. And learn not to carry food in your pockets(rookie mistake). And show no fear,no never..because if you do you get blamed for the dog attacking you.

Deadbudgie · 04/12/2018 22:51

I do wonder where some of these posters live, is it batterisea dogs home? I’ve managed to go for the last 40 odd years without stepping in dog poo, my 6year old has never stepped in any and he’s definitely not had any dog poo smeared across his face blinding him (despite everyone on both sides of the family having dogs). Occasionally I see a bad owner has failed to pick up dog poo, but I’m far more likely to be dodging bits of broken glass, stopping my dog eating dumped food. It’s extremely rare to see dogs running up to unwelcoming strangers (dogs are good character judges). There would be benefits of a dog licence mainly around the better breeding of dogs. But dogs and humans have been companions for a long time people are perfectly within their rights to not like dogs. But people are also not unreasonable wanting to have one of these amazing creatures as part of their family. I would say businesses are becoming more dog friendly not less esp in holiday locations. 30% of people holidaying in the uk take their dogs it’s massive business as most people without dogs are fine with them too. As it’s inevitable dogs and children will cross paths people need to teach kids how to interact (which a lot do) and people with dogs need to get them to interact appropriately (again the majority do). But you always get the hysterical dog haters that think the world needs to be run exactly in line with their wishes

WendyWoofer · 04/12/2018 23:07

One of mine is a PAT dog. She brings a great deal of comfort to OAPs who have dementia. (The other one is a right knob but we love him. He is an integral part of our our family and we wouldn't be without him.) Scathing non dog owners may see sense and get a dog to join their family... Who knows? Some I hope never will - for the dogs sake!

DontMakeMeShushYou · 04/12/2018 23:14

Masterandmargarita

dogs pissing and shitting up any lamp post

Dogs shitting up lampposts? Do you actually know what a dog is?