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AIBU?

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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:
Augusta2012 · 03/12/2018 19:29

Ah, I’m glad to hear that Valenta, all the more reason that it should just be current laws against foulers that should be enforced, would be easy to identify the dogs and owners.

Neededastealthname · 03/12/2018 19:31

I am a dog owner and I absolutely loath people who don't clean up after their dogs but I don't think a tax is a good way of dealing it, like a previous said it would just give people a green light to do it. It also just seems like passing the buck, many dog owners won't chip and who would check? At what extra cost? Someone else will clean up the shit, probably someone who already clears up litter and I just can't see them getting paid anymore for it or a meager amount at best.

DramaticGoose · 03/12/2018 19:33

Lol at DNA testing dog poo... pretty sure that would be an expensive exercise.

But yes, op, it is a problem where I live too. I even put a notice in my front window asking dog owners to clean up after their pets. I used a swear word so took it down after just one morning but it was after my little boy stepped in some outside my home and managed to wipe it onto the back of the seat in front of him in the car. I was hopping mad at that point so put "please clean up after your fucking dog" in the window. Blush

Honestly, it makes me so cross. Don't get a dog if you can't be bothered to clean up after it! That's one of the reasons I don't have a dog... (though I always pick up after my mum's dog it I walk him)

Fatasfook · 03/12/2018 19:35

A dog is a potentially dangerous animal. A test and a license should be compulsory.

Queenofthedrivensnow · 03/12/2018 19:39

Yanbu in any way. I think you should have to have a license and mandatory at least 3rd party insurance. Plus all breeders should have a license.

I would go much further and ban dogs in social housing and flats.

I say this as a devoted dog owner but I see so many dogs at work kept in flats and mistreated in a variety of ways. I'm so so done with watching animals suffer. We call the rspca when we remove children bit their thresholds are higher sadly

missbattenburg · 03/12/2018 19:39

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

This. With bells on.

Cat shit every bloody day. Stood in it while trying to hang Christmas lights. Sad

Harpingon · 03/12/2018 19:42

Something has to be done, there are so many dogs now, our local forest is called dog shit forest. It has a stick and flick policy but there is so much there are big stinking piles by bins and along the childrens gruffolo walk it is foul.

Monkeynuts18 · 03/12/2018 19:46

It is frustrating, but litter in general is frustrating, and we pay for that to be picked up (though not many councils are good at it!) I take your point about blindness, but toxicariasis is extremely rare, and can also occur as a result of contact with cat or fox poo. Honestly, litter such as broken glass is way more dangerous to children.

That said, one thing that infuriates me even more - and this is especially prevalent in the countryside - is when dog owners pick up the poo, put it in a bag, and then hang the bag on the nearest fence or tree. Because it would be better to leave it or kick it into the long grass and let the rain wash it away than litter the countryside with plastic bags.

FairfaxAikman · 03/12/2018 19:49

YABU - punish the offenders, not the responsible owners.

I have three dogs, each capable of producing a mound of shit bigger than their own heads, but I always pick up after them. Why should I be deprived of their company and the pleasure it provides me?

Queenofthedrivensnow · 03/12/2018 19:53

I would be happy to buy a license for my dog

Snugglepiggy · 03/12/2018 20:04

Do you know what I hate as much as finding out I've trodden in dog poo - and I say that as a dog owner who has poo bags galore in all my pockets and picks up .That all the 'crap left by humans that is not even biodegradable in the beautiful woods we walk in.Not a walk goes by without several poo bag being filled with cans,crisp packets fact food cartons etc.A lot of responsible dog owners actually do a fantastic job cleaning up. And don't get me started on fly tipping.I reported an obscene amount recently that had some documents in it.I doubt our pretty useless council will prosecute,as some do.I would love to see massive fines actually enforced wherever proof of littering and tipping and the money used for cleaning up as well as boosting dog warden services .

greenpop21 · 03/12/2018 20:07

I have a dog, walk it daily, rarely see poo. I do see lots of litter though.I pick lots of it up, will I get a rebate OP?

RIPWalter · 03/12/2018 20:14

I'm a dog owner and would be happy to pay into an additional council fund that paid for more poo bins (or general bins) which are severely lacking in some of the main dog walking locations in the area I live. Picking up dog mess and carrying it around is never pleasant, and neither is seeing it hanging in trees, and I think that more bins would increase compliance with dog mess laws.

RIPWalter · 03/12/2018 20:16

I'm another dog walker who picks up other people's litter, i fill the basket under my daughter's pushchair with plastic bottles and put them out with my recycling.

echt · 03/12/2018 20:21

You need buy -in. Where I live in Australia, there are designated off-leash areas, fields and beaches, with bins and poo bags on a roll. The stick is if a council ranger stops you and you don't have several poo bags with you, you will cop a fine. Dogs have to be registered with the council, with an annual fee graded for pensioners, less if the dog is de-sexed.

While you do still some dog crap, it's not horrendous and very very rarely on the street.

straightjeans · 03/12/2018 20:22

Sure. Let's introduce child tax as well shall we?

Biancadelriosback · 03/12/2018 20:28

Won't this just increase the amount of abandoned dogs? Putting extra pressure on animal shelters and causing more animals to be needlessly euthanized?
After all, I pay to keep my dog, keep him fed, well and healthy, I pay insurance, I paid for training classes, I pay for dog poo bags, I walk him, I love him, but I couldn't afford to be taxed on top and/or forced to pay a licence for him. I actually inherited my dog by a deceased loved one and he is very old. I would have to take him in to be killed as I know he won't get adopted and I can't imagine anything worse than him seeing out his life in a shitty little cage being passed by and feeling unloved.

Buswankeress · 03/12/2018 20:36

I'd quite happily licence my dogs, and the license fee be used towards more bins and their upkeep. Unfortunately though the responsible dog owners paying isn't going to stop the irresponsible ones that won't bother to register a dog so they can be licensed, probably the same ones that don't pick up after their dogs in the first place.

@Queenofthedrivensnow

Yanbu in any way. I think you should have to have a license and mandatory at least 3rd party insurance. Plus all breeders should have a license.

Totally agree.

I would go much further and ban dogs in social housing and flats

Um why?! I live in social housing, I can't see the logic in banning dogs just in social housing at all?

I say this as a devoted dog owner but I see so many dogs at work kept in flats and mistreated in a variety of ways. I'm so so done with watching animals suffer. We call the rspca when we remove children bit their thresholds are higher sadly

My social housing is a flat - first floor (there's only 2 flats, large old shop converted) and I have a huge garden, far bigger than any of the yards I've had in private rent. Where I'm situated now is also fantastic for dog walking (plenty of poo bins for that reason) with loads of space for off lead exercise without interfering with anyone else.
I moved to social housing because of the security, moving 8 times in 7 years from private rents was disruptive for everyone, dogs included!
On balance the only negative thing about this flat is having to carry the old girl down the stairs first thing in the morning because she's a bit wobbly. Why should I not be allowed to keep a dog because of who I pay my rent to?!

mrcharlie · 03/12/2018 20:36

Completely agree OP
I live next to a church
Every day several owners waltz into the church grounds and let the dog or dogs off to shit where they please....every single day
The war memorial has piss streaks on all four corners, the red poppies are doused in piss daily.
The vicker has fitted new gates and put signs up...not made a iota of difference
Absolutely filthy fucking scumbags!! They are the pits of society and are mostly hated by everyone who doesn't own a fucking dog!!!

Filthy fuckers

Queenofthedrivensnow · 03/12/2018 20:43

@Buswankeress I explained my reasons! Though to clarify - all flats not just council flats which don't have access to outside space.

Private tenancies rarely allow dogs I'm baffled as to why the council does.

MonicaGellerHyphenBing · 03/12/2018 20:53

Oh goody another dog-hating thread. Most ridiculous thing I've read all day. Get over yourself OP.

Buswankeress · 03/12/2018 21:05

@Queenofthedrivensnow

So, because some social housing tenants mistreat dogs then no social housing tenants should be allowed them at all? That makes no sense! House owners mistreat dogs, private tenants mistreat dogs, it's not just social housing tenants that mistreat dogs!
Some of us, like me, love and care properly for our dogs you know and I find it bloody offensive to be honest that you have made such a sweeping judgement about social housing!

I totally agree with you for flats, or indeed any home without access to outside space.

As for councils (social landlords?) Allowing pets I think it's possibly to do with the fact that social housing comes with very little compared to private rents. There were no carpets or floor covering at all, or fixtures and fittings except kitchen/bathroom suites, and it's still got some decoration from the original shop, and previous tenants, so anything I put down/buy for this place is mine where as in private rent at least floor covering and carpets were provided, so if anything is ruined by a dog in social housing, it belongs to the tenant. Social housing tenants are still under the same laws as anyone else regarding barking dogs and being a nuisance as anyone else.
And I can't speak for all housing associations, but mine only allow pets if you don't have a shared entrance, and you have a 'clean sheet' of no complaints etc.

Rarfy · 03/12/2018 21:14

I am so surprised to have just moved from a back alley to a brand new posh estate and seeing dog shit all over. It's been a real eye opener.

TheDarkPassenger · 03/12/2018 21:19

Few points:

Council tax. Pays for street clean up already.
Disability dogs. This doesn’t even need a comment, YABU solely based on this.
Dog walkers. As in people who walk other people’s dogs for a living.
People with multiple dogs. What’s the crack with this? Double rate? One flat rate?

Shove tax on everything hey. Let’s just up the cost of having a normal life shall we? And live boring monotonous existences because the cost of having anything that could possibly bring a little bit of fucking joy is too high. I’m gobsmacked tbh.

RebelWitchFace · 03/12/2018 21:41

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.

CSI Chihuahua Grin