Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
RippleEffects · 03/12/2018 18:26

And smokers due to fag buts, drinkers due to tin cans/ smashed bottles, sweet/ crisp eaters due to wrappers, bus/ train users due to tickets. parents due to noise pollution of children playing hapily or unhapily for that matter. Not sure who we tax for the bird shirt covering DH's car because he left it under a tree this morning.

Original poster
NigelGresley · 03/12/2018 18:26

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

Councils don’t have the resources! Hence the tax idea. Mind you if they just started doing it they could probably pay for themselves, but it’s pretty difficult to be in the right place at the right time. And I think people probably don’t pick up when they think no ones around.

OP posts:
Ichbinstoltz · 03/12/2018 18:27

A poo tax! I came on to say Dog Licence! But I live in Ireland where we do have to have one (€20 pa). I always pick up after my dog but have to negotiate several heaps of (Other dogs) poo on our daily walk, would I be taxed in your scenario OP? I often think they are not picked up because there are no bins. My dogs offerings are small so can go (bagged) into my pocket but I wouldn't fancy squeezing a Labradors donations into my pocket for a three mile hike.

I live in a scenic area which depends on tourism. My house is on a popular walk, every summer we have several human poos and reams of dirty tissue deposited on our driveway. Can they be taxed too?!

ADastardlyThing · 03/12/2018 18:27

Will never happen. Daft idea.

ClaryFray · 03/12/2018 18:27

Okay sure.

Then let's tax all parents so there's more money to deal with bullying.

Let's tax all women so there's more money to deal with women's services like ivf...

Get over yourself.

ScreamingValenta · 03/12/2018 18:27

And smokers due to fag buts

Smoking is already hugely taxed!

BellBookandCandle · 03/12/2018 18:27

I'm a dog owner (two of the little perished in fact) and it drives me mad seeing dog mess on pavements and on footpaths through fields etc. I pick up and dispose of it in bins as I go (makes me gag, but I'd rather that than get my wellies caked in it).

Some people will allow their dogs to foul regardless. It's a bit like the nursery late fees" argument - if you make people pay they feel "entitled" to be late or in the case of dog mess, to not pick up as their "tax" is paying for someone to pick it up/clean it up.

Likewise, Council’s fining those who don't have poo bags- great idea in theory, but do Council’s have the manpower to patrol the streets on the off chance of finding a dog owner without poo bags/other means of clearing up?

A dog licence would have to be a hefty price otherwise the cost of administering it outweighs the price of it. Those people who din't clean up are unlikely to rush out and get a licence.....and again unless it is "policed" it's a toothless "tax". Same for mandatory insurance - how do you check a person has insured their dogs? Until that dog is a problem and bites someone or needs extensive vet treatment no-one would know if they were insured or not.

Pity that the minority spoil it for all the responsible owners and annoy non dog owners.

WhyDontYouComeOnOver · 03/12/2018 18:27

Cheers, OP. Another way of fucking over disabled people.

Babyroobs · 03/12/2018 18:28

stupid post.

SoyDora · 03/12/2018 18:28

I have never not picked up after my dog.
Every single morning there is cat shit on my garden though.

Ichbinstoltz · 03/12/2018 18:30

Oh, i actually came on to say they do that in the states (or at least in some places) they DNA test the poo and fine the owner Shock (told that by a Houston, Texas dog owner)

Penninepain · 03/12/2018 18:32

Oh buggery, I am on a roll here.

Last week, i picked up 2 bin liners of crap left by humans in a beautiful woodland nearby. They drive up a lane and simply dump. There is a council recycling centre 3 miles away. Go figure.
Humans leave far more shit than dogs. In fact, dogs leave no shit- it is their humans who are responsible.

I kind of agree with OP. Then think fuck it, no. Start bloody prosecuting litter louts, fly tippers. 'Ooh, i'll just chuck this MacDonalds box out of my car window' arseholes, andthen I will start listening.

ADastardlyThing · 03/12/2018 18:33

How about taxing non dog owners? Dogs provide a lot of relief from MH issues, they get people up and about, they give a lot of joy, they give some people a reason for being, and I imagine keep a lot of people in work because of this. In my case it saved my GP from having to prescribe anti depressants and counselling etc etc .

Non dog owners could essentially be more of a drain on the NHS if you think about it that way.

So yea, tax non dog owners. Yep.

WinterfellWench · 03/12/2018 18:34

I am totally also totally pissed off with dog owners letting their mutts shit here there and everywhere, over footpaths (and on my cunting lawn!) But firstly, I am not sure how you would enforce it, secondly, many dog owners are good decent owners, and thirdly, where do you draw the line? Fine people with cats too? People who smoke and chuck ciggie butts down, and many more examples that people have mentioned.

HowlsMovingBungalow · 03/12/2018 18:34

Dog wardens should be out and about and enforcing fouling fines. Doing their jobs!

Fatasfook · 03/12/2018 18:34

I agree. I think dog owners should need to pass a test and buy a licence and maybe pay a tax.

Doghorsechicken · 03/12/2018 18:37

Good idea & tax parents for the upkeep of parks since I don’t use them myself! Ridiculous idea...

CherryPavlova · 03/12/2018 18:38

I think there should be quite a hefty licence cost to make people think twice before taking on a dog/dogs. Increasing numbers of multiple dog households are a problem - I mean those households with four, five or six dogs. It can’t be nice for the neighbours unless they have quite a bit of land.
People who can’t afford vets bills or insurance are not being fair to the dog either.

It’s not only about fouling, it’s about animal welfare.

lemonpopsy · 03/12/2018 18:40

@RumbleDoll or you could just pick it up and take it home? I love it when my toddler stamps in dog shit in the forest because people can't be arsed to pick it up.

Dog crap is grim, pony poo is completely different.

HowlsMovingBungalow · 03/12/2018 18:41

Horse shit is not a health hazard.

Madbengalmum · 03/12/2018 18:41

Tax the parents of the kids that litter our churchyard with takeaway crap EVERY weekend, leaving it for some poor sod to clear up, dog owners who don't pick up are in the minority and by taxing them you open up a whole raft of other taxes for other anti social behaviours.

Original poster
NigelGresley · 03/12/2018 18:43

Good idea & tax parents for the upkeep of parks since I don’t use them myself!

I don’t use them much either because they tend to be blighted by dog shit as well!!

OP posts:
BumDisease · 03/12/2018 18:43

I suppose this is ever so slightly different from the usual weekly dog thread...

Zofloramummy · 03/12/2018 18:44

My front gate seems to be a popular place to poo. It’s close to a park where a lot of dog walkers go. This morning I went out to a massive pile of poo right outside. Makes me very angry but I think unless every street has cctv and dedicated community officers watching (cost would be astronomical) it’s a sad fact of life. Some dog owners are irresponsible idiots. Some dog owners are responsible people.

Giantbanger · 03/12/2018 18:44

I;'m in northern ireland - we have a dog licence. it's £12.50 if your dog isn't neutered and £5 if it is (per year)

Don't you have a licence in the rest of the UK?

Swipe left for the next trending thread