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.

@Mrstreehouse

I think the point is people don’t walk their cats to park/playgrounds and let them shit there.

They don’t need to - cats can (and do) go wherever they like. I wonder what the figures are for people’s vision affected by cat shit vs dog shit?

@EvilEdna1

Dog ownership contributes to climate change via their meat consumption though.

As does cat ownership

I voted YABU, I've known this since I was a child. It's one reason why I would never own a dog, it is such an irresponsible thing to do. There's no such thing as a "responsible dog owner" - just varying degrees of irresponsibility.

YABU - I knew this.. but your not being unreasonable for spreading the information to those who don’t already know this.

I agree with pps that it did get worse over lockdown. I guess it's due to SO MANY people getting a dog (and some hardly thinking it through).
Agree eith the pps as well about this being issue with cat poo, which is often a hidden bastard poo bomb.
Owners of both should be thinking more about their pet's impact on people.

@KarmaStar

Ffs!!always people moaning constantly about dogs on mn. It's not dogs that are causing climate change It's not dogs that deal drugs. Dogs don't shoot or stab Dogs don't want money or power Dogs have, and do work hard for humans,protecting,guiding,helping,bringing joy,friendship and love into the world. Leave dogs alone!! They don't have flush toilets.Think back to human sewage that used to run down the street causing illness and death..The poo is picked up as best as possible. Give me a dog over a whining entitled human any day.🐶🐕🐩🐺🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

This especially the last bit. Also don't forget it is OUR fault, as humans that there are so many dogs about. Often irresponsibly.

I cannot believe anybody didn't know this but OP, have you researched the risk level of blindness from toxoplasmosis? It's extremely rare. Not saying of course, that it's fine to leave dog shit everywhere, but your poll kind of implies this is a pressing issue.

I always pick up after my dogs, but I was once doing just that and a bunch of little darlings schoolchildren aged about 7-10 came running up asking for my bag of poo as they were playing a game involving throwing it at each other

I agree with you op, but to be honest the main reason we should be picking up after our dogs is just because it's a bit medieval to just leave shit lying around isn't it! The pavements around here are riddled with it, taking the kids for a walk is like doing the shit slalom.

I always pick up after my dogs, but I was once doing just that and a bunch of little darlings schoolchildren aged about 7-10 came running up asking for my bag of poo as they were playing a game involving throwing it at each other confused hmm

That's just 😂😂😂 what😂😂😂

@DotDotDotDot Poo under the fingernail? Ew! Well, if you had a nail-biting habit, that would be the way the break it.

A no dogs country? I'm in. Most dog owners don't care tbh. I'm asthmatic and quite allergic, and you get the same attitude if one sits next to you on the bus or train or in a cafe. They always expect me to move and consider IABU. Overwhelming majority of dog owners just super selfish

I’d love a no dogs country too. It would be wonderful.

I second the no dogs country. I don’t know why because I grew up with dogs and loved our own dearly.

But I am absolutely petrified of other peoples dogs, no matter how big or small or friendly they are. They scare me.. and people somehow find that silly and makes me feel pretty belittled when they’re like “oh don’t be silly he wouldn’t hurt a fly.. why are you flinching he’s fine” he might be fine.. but I’m not!

Dogs off leads give me the worst panic attacks I’ve ever experienced and I really hope that at a minimum there’s some sort of law that will be put in place that all dogs out in public must be kept on a lead at all times.

Well I didn't see that coming 👁️

A dog free country? Not sure how that would work when many dogs are working dogs.

But, as a dog owner, if dogs were banned and you couldn't replace the ones you have once they died, I could accept that.

As long as cats were banned as well. I would accept it.

I've known about this for years. We used to clean up after our dog and worm her, but I also made sure my children sat on picnic blankets if we ate in the park, and if they played there they washed their hands before eating. Parents also need to take responsibility along with dog owners.

I really hope that at a minimum there’s some sort of law that will be put in place that all dogs out in public must be kept on a lead at all times.

Off lead time is actually very important for dogs. It should, of course, be away from people. Put on a lead, if someone else is nearby and not allowed to approach people. Recall should always be bomb proof, at the very least, for the safety of the dog.

However, again, I would accept that. As long as cats were also never allowed out of someone's house. I can't imagine any other way, to stop a cat from going into other people gardens.

@MyMabel

I second the no dogs country. I don’t know why because I grew up with dogs and loved our own dearly.

But I am absolutely petrified of other peoples dogs, no matter how big or small or friendly they are. They scare me.. and people somehow find that silly and makes me feel pretty belittled when they’re like “oh don’t be silly he wouldn’t hurt a fly.. why are you flinching he’s fine” he might be fine.. but I’m not!

Dogs off leads give me the worst panic attacks I’ve ever experienced and I really hope that at a minimum there’s some sort of law that will be put in place that all dogs out in public must be kept on a lead at all times.

I don't think it's the dogs who are issue. It's the not trusting the owner to handle them, isn't it? Because I love dogs and I am careful around dogs a lot. Like who lets their dog jump on others. An idiot who shouldn't have a dog. That's who.

Of course we should clean up after our dogs, no doubt about that. The major risk is not from fresh dog poo, as the parasite is in a form that can't infect anyone at that stage. It is later when the eggs are on or in the ground that the problems can arise. Most important to keep young children off the ground in places where dogs are exercised as that is when they can pick it up.Blindness is very rare, but a significant number of adults have antibodies so infection not that unusual.

I don't agree with the on pead all times. I would rather saw a mandatory training law. Like the owner has to pass a test and go to minimum of 10 training sessions with the dog after getting it. Now that would be a good law imho

However, again, I would accept that. As long as cats were also never allowed out of someone's house. I can't imagine any other way, to stop a cat from going into other people gardens.

Owner coupd cat proof fences. So the cat would get outside space too

Why do you only care about dog poo and not cat or fox poo? Cats and foxes will be in your no dogs parks so even if people don’t bring dogs the risk is still there

Agreed OP. We need dedicated dog parks and more dedicated children's parks like they have on other countries like US.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

However, again, I would accept that. As long as cats were also never allowed out of someone's house. I can't imagine any other way, to stop a cat from going into other people gardens.

Owner coupd cat proof fences. So the cat would get outside space too

Even better

I did know this but can’t vote YABU as it happened to a child we knew when I was growing up.

@Datingandnoideahowto

Why do you only care about dog poo and not cat or fox poo? Cats and foxes will be in your no dogs parks so even if people don’t bring dogs the risk is still there

A silly comparison. Cats and Foxes roam free.

The risk is still there though so how would the op mitigate that?