To remind you that dog poo can cause blindness?

[UnlimitedChipsAndSalsa]

Around 100 people (mostly children) a year in the UK experience vision loss because of exposure to dog poo. Clean up after your dog every time.

YABU - I already knew about dog poo and blindness.
YANBU - This is new information to me.

Thanks for voting. I'm really curious to know whether this is common knowledge.

Also, keep your dog out of "no dogs" parks! (Pretty much just a rant from here, so feel free to skip this part .) I'm also so tired of seeing entitled dogs owners bringing their dogs into "no dogs" parks, which are set up (in part) to reduce children's exposure to harmful faeces.

PREDICTABLE EXCUSES:
PE#1: "But I clean up after my dog."
Not 100% you don't. There's no way you would rub your hand in the place you just cleaned up and then stick it in your mouth. That's what kids do, and that's why there are a few but some areas that do not allow dogs.

PE#2: But I worm my dog regularly."
The reason it has to be redone is because dogs pick up roundworms again, so it's not 100% effective.

PE#3: "But I'm just passing through."
Passing through the "no dogs" park is being IN the park. And dog faeces aside, there are other reasons why people might go specifically to a "no dogs" parks (severe allergy, fear of dogs, etc.).

PE#4: "What about cats/foxes?"
We're talking about dogs here.

PE#5: "What about service animals?"
Service animals are allowed to go anywhere the owner goes, so obviously I'm not talking about those.

I know someone who is partially sighted due to dog shit. I had no idea that could happen before I met her though

@YoungGun95 Sorry to hear about your friend. I only learned it fairly recently myself. I hope dog owners will be more vigilant after learning this (there are plenty of responsible dog owners out there, but they seem to be in the minority these days...).

YANBU, I didn’t know.

Some people on our local Nextdoor photograph and shame selfish dog owners who don’t pick up their dog’s shit. I’m all for it.

And they shouldn’t be in ‘no dogs’ parks.

I didnt know this.

I did know and agree with you, it feels like I am seeing more dog crap than ever all over the place these days - maybe a result of lockdown pets? Or maybe people got lazy during lockdown and aren't picking it up as much as they used to

It’s been well known and publicised for years

@phishy I'm all for the public shaming, too. Cleaning up after your dog is such a basic responsibility (and keeping your dog out of places they aren't allowed). I wonder what people tell themselves, or maybe they just don't care.

I didnt know this. Dont have a dog so im not the culprit, but good to know!

@kikipie

It’s been well known and publicised for years

According to the (very scientific ) vote, it looks like about a third of people so far didn't know, so it's worth repealing.

Is anyone else reminded of Amanda from Motherland with the patronising and bossy tone of this post? I'm picturing her at a flipchart with the predictable excuses on a page each.

"What about cats/foxes?"
We're talking about dogs here

@ChatterMonkey

I didnt know this. Dont have a dog so im not the culprit, but good to know!

Yes, maybe (hopefully) it's common knowledge among dog owners.

I absolutely call people out on this when I see it. When I was a runner I used to carry bags with me so when they claimed they didn't have anything I could hand them a bag and watch as they squeamishly picked up their shit. Those dirty dirty people. I loathe it.

I am surprised that so many people didn't realise about the eye-sight implications.

@DotDotDotDot

Is anyone else reminded of Amanda from Motherland with the patronising and bossy tone of this post? I'm picturing her at a flipchart with the predictable excuses on a page each.

"What about cats/foxes?"
We're talking about dogs here

That's why my rant was optional. And, anyway, I use PowerPoint, not a flipchart. It really helps to drive the message home.

Cats and foxes might not be the subject of the thread, but their faeces pose exactly the same risk, so you need to take the same hygiene precautions whether you are in a dog-free park or not. Especially as the worms from the faeces can live happily in soil, so the risk can be present even when poo cannot be seen.

I knew this. It’s infuriating, our local park is “no dogs allowed” on the central field, but it’s not fenced off so plenty of owners just ignore it. There are so many shit smears on the grass from owners who think they’re OK because they cleaned up the bulk of the poo . Wish we had a no dogs park. Or a no dogs country, tbh.

I did know this.

My mum saw our local vet let her dog take a dump outside her home one day and didn't clear it up! Lots of children use her road up and down on their bikes. Shocking! My mum cleared it up

I knew but had forgotten, thanks for the reminder op

I though it was common knowledge.

Cat and fox poo poses exactly the same risk.

@Alonelonelyloner

I absolutely call people out on this when I see it. When I was a runner I used to carry bags with me so when they claimed they didn't have anything I could hand them a bag and watch as they squeamishly picked up their shit. Those dirty dirty people. I loathe it.

I am surprised that so many people didn't realise about the eye-sight implications.

Good for you! I think if more people call this out, it will at least somewhat reduce the problem. Hmm...maybe I need to carry a few spare bags with me.

I'm quite shocked people don't know this. We were told this from a very young age as children and ways taught not to touch out eyes if we got dog poo on our hands.

So you’re not happy even when people do clean up after their dogs because they can’t remove all traces? What would you suggest?

That's why my rant was optional. grin And, anyway, I use PowerPoint, not a flipchart. It really helps to drive the message home.

Nice comeback, OP You wiped the floor with me there

PS I didn't know that about dog poo - just cat poo. I once got dog poo under my fingernail when picking up my own dog's poo because the poo bag slipped

@DotDotDotDot

Love that show - very good comparison.

If I’m walking in the woods, I just bury it. It’ll break down in a matter of days. It doesn’t make any sense to preserve it for all eternity inside plastic in those circumstances.

If it’s a human area, I obviously pick it up.

Think I failed the initiative test as I voted YANBU to your question To remind you that dog poo can cause blindness?

Then I re read it and realised that wasn’t how you’d organised the vote.

But good to publicise it OP.