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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:
Wordthe · 04/12/2018 23:37

I would imagine that most of us will be able to agree that dogs have a role in human society they have a long-standing connection with us

We disagree on what we regard to be the proper extent of that role and it doesn't help that there is not much in the way of legislation to give firm guidelines so it becomes a battle for territory between dog owners and non dog owners
let's not beat around the bush if there are lots of dogs in an area it can become a no go area for others
it's difficult, for example, to run if there are numerous dogs in evidence because they are prone to chasing attacking tripping you up ect
it may well be the case that the majority of dog owners are genuinely good responsible dog owners but there are still a sizable number of bad dog owners
I see people with large muscular intimidating dogs which are allowed to run around off the lead just as they please, the owner is generally on his or her phone paying no attention to what the pet is doing frequently it is taking a s* and of course the owner can't pick it up if je didn't know it happened
there have been occasions when these types of dogs have behaved in a threatening and intimidating way towards me
I don't think I should have to feel scared of animals when I'm walking around in an urban setting should I?

eggncress · 04/12/2018 23:42

I can see the point that it’s inconsiderate not picking up your dog shit ( I carry a wad of poo bags everywhere) But taxing dogs is a shite idea and it comes from someone who just hates dogs ( and owners) by the sound of it.

What about the cats who shit in other people’s gardens for the kids to stand in when playing?

You could argue taxing babies for the amount of environment-damaging , landfill - clogging nappies they use.
What would you tax litter louts? Someone has to clean up after them don’t they? And the people who drop cigarette butts everywhere? Drunks who puke in the street and clog up A&E departments and take up hospital beds? Hill walkers who fall off mountains and cost the nhs money? .... the list is never ending really.Where do you draw the line? Lets tax them all an extra 20%! It’s the answer to all the funding problems !Wink

But thanks for this thread OP, it’s been quite an amusing read Grin

WendyWoofer · 05/12/2018 00:56

Eggncress yes... but what about the pfb's who step in dog shit, wearing their expensive trainers. Who is responsible for replacing said NEW, EXPENSIVE trainers?

Is it the dogs fault or the PFB's fault??

The dilemma is
a. Should PFB's parent poison the dog (and other animals and small children who may come into contact with said poison).
b. Should PFB parent advise them to watch where they step and encourage their PFB to pick up dog shit that dog owners didn't...

Nah cancel the last bit...I'll happily pick.up after my own dogs. No way on earth would I pick up after anyone else's dog 🤮

sanpelle · 05/12/2018 01:12

But we were all once babies, so wouldn't we all be in debt with government if there was a 'baby tax'? Great money making scheme. Don't go giving them any ideasGrin

sanpelle · 05/12/2018 01:16

If there was a baby tax would you all be prepared to pay up and settle thousands of pounds worth of debt from when you were a baby or had your own baby?

Feefeetrixabelle · 05/12/2018 07:50

Tbf @dontmakemeshushyou my dog has taken to back himself up as close as he can too trees, bushes and lampposts to take a shit. I think he does it cos he like my wtaf are you doing reaction. I then-end pick it all up. And any other in about a metre radius cos I’d hate to be blamed for something as minging as leaving crap in the street.

Satsumaeater · 05/12/2018 08:10

Litter louts are fined so that's a sort of tax if they are caught.

The debate on here about poisoning the dog is silly. We all think things fleetingly that we have no intention of ever carrying out. Too much irrational keyboard warrioring.

Satsumaeater · 05/12/2018 08:13

All dog owners are entitled? Entitled to what? Maybe you could expand so we all know what you're talking about. Entitled to what

Entitled in that they feel that their pets are as important as humans and should be able to go anywhere like shops and restaurants. Animals do not belong in shops etc. And definitely not in offices (unless it's your own business in which case you're clearly the boss and can decide your own rules)! I saw a job advertised recently which looked quite interesting until I saw that dogs were allowed/encouraged in the office. Not for me then.

BumDisease · 05/12/2018 08:23

I've never really understood why we humans view ourselves as "important".

SoyDora · 05/12/2018 08:26

I certainly don’t think my dog is as as important as a human and should be allowed anywhere Confused. Again, I don’t know any dog owners who do so I’m confused as to where these mass generalisations are coming from.
I’m happy to take my dog into an area that says dogs are allowed, but would never demand or expect that they be allowed anywhere.

eggncress · 05/12/2018 08:31

Dogs are part of the family for dog owners so to them are as important as humans.
You making the assumption that they are therefore “entitled” is a bit silly.
If I can take my dog into cafes or shops I feel grateful ... certainly not entitled Hmm

WalnutToast · 05/12/2018 08:41

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.

This.

However, the minority of dog owners who let their dogs foul pavements probably wouldn't register their dogs - they'd do the doggy equivalent of driving uninsured - so you'd just be penalising the responsible dog owners while the others continued regardless.

purplegoat · 05/12/2018 08:46

Humans are actually no more important than any other creature on this planet. The fact that many think we are is the root cause of most of the environmental problems we're facing. Including the fact that humans are responsible for the current mass extinction we are currently living in.

PoisonousSmurf · 05/12/2018 08:49

Dogs have to be chipped by law. Maybe do a genetic test at the same time and have a massive database, so that any collected 'offending' poo, can be analyzed and linked to a particular dog.
Coming soon in a dystopian universe...

AlaskanOilBaron · 05/12/2018 08:50

However, the minority of dog owners who let their dogs foul pavements probably wouldn't register their dogs - they'd do the doggy equivalent of driving uninsured - so you'd just be penalising the responsible dog owners while the others continued regardless.

I think the whole point of the dog license is to establish a budget where dog wardens actually exist in the first instance, and are ideally empowered to approach any dog owner and confirm a license with a wand.

I've no idea how this could be considered controversial.

echt · 05/12/2018 08:52

However, the minority of dog owners who let their dogs foul pavements probably wouldn't register their dogs - they'd do the doggy equivalent of driving uninsured - so you'd just be penalising the responsible dog owners while the others continued regardless

Where I live if you don't display a rego for the dog, you're fined on the spot. Rego is a collar disc number or microchip.I don't agree that fouling = non-rego. Councils need to start campaigns, get buy-in then enforce.

Though while they're shutting libraries, dog shit is probably low on their list.

echt · 05/12/2018 08:53

I think the whole point of the dog license is to establish a budget where dog wardens actually exist in the first instance, and are ideally empowered to approach any dog owner and confirm a license with a wand. I've no idea how this could be considered controversial

This is exactly what they do where I live.

JammieCodger · 05/12/2018 08:56

I hate it when people don’t pick up after their dogs, but right now most of my ire is directed at the selfish bastards who chuck the remains of their takeaways on the street. Dog shit is a pain to clean off shoes but a discarded chicken bone could kill a dog.

purplegoat · 05/12/2018 08:57

There are already dog wardens. They are payed for by council tax.

AlaskanOilBaron · 05/12/2018 09:09

Though while they're shutting libraries, dog shit is probably low on their list.

It could be a revenue-generator if there were the political will to actually inflict financial pain on feckless dog owners. Sadly, this country is pretty weak when it comes to imposes any kind of fines on anyone who can demonstrate that it's a 'hardship', I'm guessing anyone earning an average wage could pretty easily clear that threshold.

The UK could learn a bit from the US in this regard.

NotyourMummynotyourmilk · 05/12/2018 09:14

I am a dog owner and I absolutely would not mind paying a tax to make sure that we could have more dog wardens to police dog fouling and anti social doggie behaviour, also wouldn't mind paying for more dog only play areas too. If only we could be sure that is where the extra money would go and not be wasted on a councillors' jolly abroad to asses how they do it in Sweden or Germany which is probably what our local council would think appropriate!!!

AlaskanOilBaron · 05/12/2018 09:15

Though while they're shutting libraries, dog shit is probably low on their list.

While this may be technically true, it barely matters in practice. There are no wardens to speak of in London (please, anyone, correct me?)

Where dogs are seized, it's almost always because they've already been involved in some kind of violence (dog on dog, dog on human) and the owners have agreed. They have the right to refuse, and then they'll be issued a muzzle order and you'll have to wait until they violate that order (which they will) to have them put down by force.

There's effectively no penalty for fouling, either. There have been something close to 0 fines issued by my council in the past 10 years.

AlaskanOilBaron · 05/12/2018 09:16

If only we could be sure that is where the extra money would go and not be wasted on a councillors' jolly abroad to asses how they do it in Sweden or Germany which is probably what our local council would think appropriate!!!

Wink I love your cynical way, I expect you're right.

WendyWoofer · 05/12/2018 11:00

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45145181

The dog wardens are sorting if out in our area. Hope the link works..

WendyWoofer · 05/12/2018 23:28

For the first time ever our council have got it right. Those who dont/won't pick up their dogs mess pay the dog wardens fees. Just as it should be..