to think the dog mess problem is getting much worse since Covid?

[sadpapercourtesan]

It's actually spoiling most of my longer walks, now. It's so disgusting, especially when it's left right in the middle of a pavement so people have walked through it already and made it virtually impossible to avoid.

In the interest of not drip-feeding, I have ASD and I know I am a bit of a loon about disgusting things/poo/bad smells. I avoid the local park in high summer because the stench walking past the dog bins makes me swoon.

Has anyone else noticed the dog mess being much more of a problem in recent months? What can be done about it? I know it's on me to "get over it" and not let it stop me from going for long walks, but I honestly find it so difficult when there's shit every 50 metres or so and even though I'm ridiculously hypervigilant, DH and the kids aren't.

@Yohoheaveho

Someone actually has a bag with them, picks up and wraps the dog shit then drops.it on the path for someone else.to take care I have seen this happen, typically one person leaves the 'little back bag of fecal bon bons' at the side of the path, a couple of days later there is now a whole row of them 😖 presumably other dog owners think 'oh look that must be the place to leave my little black bag of fecal bon bons'🤷‍♀️

No, some dog owners pick them up and take them to the bin. Or at least this dog owner does. I seem to clear up after other people’s dogs as much as my own.

I seem to clear up after other people’s dogs as much as my own
Props to you Vinyldetective🙏
Sadly there are lots of dog owners who just leave the shit behind 🙁

If you walk two minutes up the road I live in we’re in the countryside and so it’s like a fucking motorway for dog walkers in lockdown - usually there’s just a normal amount of people but it’s like Blackpool seafront some days which is ridiculous. And there is ALWAYS poo on the pavement. My DS steps in in every single bastard time we go out. We go around the edges of the fields nearby and there’s always so, so much there. It stinks too (and obviously we’re in the country so used to country smells but dog poo has a particular gross lingering smell). It enrages me tbh. At least flick it into the undergrowth or something, don’t leave it on the path where loads of families walk.

At this environmentally aware time it's somehow ok for everyone (or many many people) to own dogs. I mean they are eating and crapping everywhere.
But I suspect that this fad will go over the next few years.

Sorry, what do you mean by eating and crapping everywhere? I’ve never seen a dog eat their dinner in the park.

I think it's worse. I'm a dog owner and shudder at the amount of crap that's left. Our local environment/tidy group has taken to high lighting the shit with red spray and it's shocking. I honestly don't know what can be done. If I see someone leaving their dog's doings I offer one of my bags and they shamefacedly clean up. But there must be people out with their dogs in the dark because I hardly ever see this

We have a lot more people from other areas walking in our village and there is a lot more dog poo around. We are a small village of approx. 200 people and there is usually no problem.

Yes, it's bloody awful. We live near a popular walk circuit - all pavement not wild or grass. We've had to clean shit off the kids shoes or scooters every couple of days since Christmas. It's driving me absolutely mad.

I would happily go and spray the turds with highlighting paint while on our walks.
Does anyone know what the suitable paint is? Needs to be washable so it will come off in the rain fairly quickly and isn't just vandalism.

Sounds like post lockdown this will be less of a problem, we'll just go back to the normal 'background level' of dog shit in our lives?

I've solved the problem of dog shit outside my house - I now have two cctv cameras aimed through my front windows.
It's very interesting to notice that since then I have no more presents.
The only thing that stopped people lobbing bags of dog shit into part of my garden was to move my fence to enclose it.

@Lockdownlumpy

I would happily go and spray the turds with highlighting paint while on our walks. Does anyone know what the suitable paint is? Needs to be washable so it will come off in the rain fairly quickly and isn't just vandalism.

would it be better to mount cameras in areas prone to fouling, local councils could then broadcast footage of the offending owners?

All dogs should be chipped and DNA registered so it can be traced. It's disgusting. There's not many dog free places anymore

Oh, X posted with you mineofuselessinformation
I now have two cctv cameras aimed through my front windows
nice one!

@Lockdownlumpy

I would happily go and spray the turds with highlighting paint while on our walks. Does anyone know what the suitable paint is? Needs to be washable so it will come off in the rain fairly quickly and isn't just vandalism.

My mum uses spray chalk from Amazon to shame locals who let dogs foul on footpaths

Much worse where I am too. We take stuff with us to clean the pram wheels as it’s everywhere

Definitely much more. Lazy arseholes.

It is much worse in my area too

As others have said, lots of people buying lockdown dogs, on a whim, who really don’t know how to care for a dog, or what’s involved. These same idiots are the same ones who are now abandoning and selling them. Dog fouling is definitely far far worse than pre covid.

Yep! We have a lovely little park near us which has fresh piles of dog shit in the grass - everyday. It was never as bad before covid. I wish I could catch the dirty b@$#rds who let their dogs crap everywhere. I would have zero problem telling them their dog has left a mess.

Its near a children's playground so lots of families use the park. I can't even let my toddler run around incase she slides in it or worse.

Irresponsible dog owners disgust me.

This is a massive problem although I've seen it worse in other places I've lived. It was worse when I lived in a part of Bath. I'd be livid if I had kids. Entirely thoughtless.

It’s completely out of control in my part of London. You can’t actually walk without keeping a close eye on the footpath. There is no one enforcing it so people think they can just let their dog crap everywhere.

It is much worse. So much on pavements too and my front garden. Great fun with pushchair wheels 😠

Definitely worse where I live. Loads of dog shit left on pavements by ignorant owners

Literally emailed our council about it this afternoon. It's absolutely ridiculous!