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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:
Original poster
NigelGresley · 03/12/2018 18:44

All of us already pay tax to clean up after people who litter & fly-tip.

OP posts:
Tara336 · 03/12/2018 18:44

There a lots of things I’m taxed for and don’t use. If a dog owner is irresponsible I doubt very much the thought that maybe a dog warden will catch them in the act it’s just not practical! I own a dog and I clear up after her but there are those that don’t. In particular the idiots that bag it and then leave it where it is! Why bother doing that? Or those that hang it on or leave it by the fence of our local dog walking area! There’s a bin 10m from the entrance!

ScreamingValenta · 03/12/2018 18:46

Giantbanger There isn't one in England for sure - I can't speak for Scotland and Wales.

Original poster
NigelGresley · 03/12/2018 18:47

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?

I regularly pick up other folk’s dog shit from my street. Who should I charge??

OP posts:
BatsAreCool · 03/12/2018 18:50

All of us already pay tax to clean up after people who litter & fly-tip.

I don't understand that argument. Isn't that the same as all of us pay tax for the dog wardens and councils to clean up the streets? What's the difference other than your arbitrary decision on what is and isn't taxed enough.

HowlsMovingBungalow · 03/12/2018 18:51

Has anyone seen a regular dog warden in their area? I haven't ever seen one here, we have signs now for being fined for dogs off leads - whose is keeping a check ? No - one.

Surfskatefamily · 03/12/2018 18:53

@rumbledoll toxacara canis in dog poo if ingested by livestock kills their current pregancy and prevents them ever carrying to term in future. It is not the same as pony poo

Shepherdspieisminging · 03/12/2018 18:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
NigelGresley · 03/12/2018 18:54

I don't understand that argument. Isn't that the same as all of us pay tax for the dog wardens and councils to clean up the streets? What's the difference

Ok let’s try another analogy - only car owners pay car tax.

OP posts:
Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 03/12/2018 18:55

Councils should tax parents

I work in a secondary school. I see the hours of work put in each day by the janitorial staff to clean up the rubbish the kids throw on the ground, despite there being numerous bins around. The cost-saving would be far greater than a few dog wardens if people actually taught their children to respect their school.

WeeCheekyBird · 03/12/2018 18:57

Disagreeing with you is not being obnoxious - if anything your attitude to dog owners is.

We are not all scummy owners who leave dog mess everywhere. I get just as annoyed when I have to clean poo off my toddlers shoes as someone left some in a pile of leaves.

I just don't feel the need to act holier than thou and demand more taxation to a population who are already on their knees with taxes.

There are better ways of sorting things than hitting people in the pocket.

Original poster
NigelGresley · 03/12/2018 19:01

Disagreeing with you is not being obnoxious

Course it’s not, but I wonder why your post was deleted? (Nothing to do with me, btw)

OP posts:
Augusta2012 · 03/12/2018 19:03

I would prefer a small licence fee and compulsory chipping because that would help track down owners who dump dogs etc.

It’s a real problem in the few roads around my house because it takes you into a good area of countryside for walking and several parks. The fouling is bad enough to have been reported in the local paper several times.

I would much rather they just enforced the rules they already have and fined those who fouled. I see a lot of people be meticulous about picking it up and taking it away, even if it’s a particularly gross one. I really don’t see why they should suffer because of a minority. Compulsory chipping would also mean easy identification for foulers.

Besides, if a tax was put on dog owners regarding fouling, it would mean that a lot of them would feel like it was a green light to foul. They’d say they paid for it to be cleaned up and because of that their dog could shit where they liked - even those who pick up now. I think it would make the situation worse rather than better. They just need to enforce the fines we have more visibly and more often. New laws and taxes aren’t needed.

Shepherdspieisminging · 03/12/2018 19:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WeeCheekyBird · 03/12/2018 19:05

My post was deleted because of my wording obviously and that is due to frustration of constantly seeing this same topic.

I am just fed up of being tarred by the same brush as irresponsible people.

LakieLady · 03/12/2018 19:06

My front gate seems to be a popular place to poo

I think dogs like to shit where other dogs have shat. Mine always goes in the same places on our walks, and it's often near other dogs' crap.

Maybe sluicing the area down with Jeyes fluid might make it smell less attractive. Not that you should have to, of course.

It gives me the rage, as it gets responsible dog owners a bad name.

ScreamingValenta · 03/12/2018 19:09

Augusta2012 Chipping has been compulsory in the UK since April 2016 - and rightly so.

PurpleAndTurquoise · 03/12/2018 19:12

Yea! We live in a small village and because it's rural people seem to think it's ok to leave the dog poo in the long grass verges.
It's absolutely foul. The kids and I get dog poo on us nearly every time we go out. It stink so much and it's so hard to get rid off. I hate it.

PurpleAndTurquoise · 03/12/2018 19:12

Yes not yea!

RumbleDoll · 03/12/2018 19:14

Lemon popsy.
Is kicked into the hedges, not left on paths.

Eatmycheese · 03/12/2018 19:20

Bit off point but I don't get the folk that go to the effort of begging dog poo then hanging it from a tree.

Some sort of sinister cultish type sculpture going on there.

Eatmycheese · 03/12/2018 19:21

*bagging not begging. That vowel made quite a difference to my observation

Governoress86 · 03/12/2018 19:23

I have a dog and always pick up after her when I take her out. I do agree with having a dog license and be vetted before getting a dog.

If a tax was enforced I would hope the same would be for cat owners. I'm sick to death of picking cat pop out of my garden. And when they have clawed and scratched at my garden furniture and my DD garden toys!!!

ginyogarepeat · 03/12/2018 19:28

Are dog licenses not compulsory elsewhere in the UK? They are here in NI, I assumed that was the case all over....

WinterfellWench · 03/12/2018 19:28

I didn't see anything in your post @WeeCheekyBird to warrant it being deleted! Shock

WTF?

What got it deleted?! Did you call the OP a name or something?

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