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.

@DynamoKev

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

Even though the "statistics" quoted turned out to actually include dogs and foxes.

That part was specifically about dogs in dog-free areas. Cats and foxes are not banned from dog-free areas (though it would be great if they could be, imo).

Yes I did know about this, although I thought cat poo was a bigger issue (and fox poo).

DH has had toxoplasmosis which we thought he'd caught from gardening. We aren't sure if it was cats or foxes (although the consultant hated cats and blamed them!) Not dogs as the neighbours who now have two dogs didn't live here at the time.

100 children a year lose their vision because of dog poo, clean up after your dog!
Ah OK, well, not just dog poo, cat poo as well.
Ah, well, yes, fox poo too.
Ah, yes, maybe they don't lose their whole vision, but some partial vision loss!
Ah well yes, it might not be 100, it could be 50.
Ah OK, sure, we don't know how many of those 50 got it from dog poo or any poo, or how many lost any vision.

"1 child a year loses their vision because of fox poo, clean up after your dog" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

@igelkott2021

Yes I did know about this, although I thought cat poo was a bigger issue (and fox poo).

DH has had toxoplasmosis which we thought he'd caught from gardening. We aren't sure if it was cats or foxes (although the consultant hated cats and blamed them!) Not dogs as the neighbours who now have two dogs didn't live here at the time.

Sorry to hear about your DH. Yes, if it was in your own private garden, very unlikely to be a dog.

@Hont1986

100 children a year lose their vision because of dog poo, clean up after your dog! Ah OK, well, not just dog poo, cat poo as well. Ah, well, yes, fox poo too. Ah, yes, maybe they don't lose their whole vision, but some partial vision loss! Ah well yes, it might not be 100, it could be 50. Ah OK, sure, we don't know how many of those 50 got it from dog poo or any poo, or how many lost any vision.

"1 child a year loses their vision because of fox poo, clean up after your dog" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

Not sure how you got to 1 (the magic of maths!), but, yes, I think it's right to adjust my thinking in light of new info. How about: "Yet another reason to clean up after your dog"? And, as I said earlier in the thread, the expectations for cat owners is different, as cats are allowed to roam free (not saying I think they should). That doesn't mean cats aren't contributing to the problem. I never said they weren't. You can say "Smoking causes cancer" without naming all of the other things that also cause cancer.

I am on my 3rd dog now.never leave the house for a walk without lead bags and keys! Our dog is wormed monthly. The wormer will kill parasites and then be restatred with the new dose.i love all dogs and needless to say collect the poo religiously. Hate stepping in mess as much as the next person!

Cat shit is the worst. Why do the little sods have to bury it! I filled a poo bag from the bed at the front of the house with cat shit the other day. Rank,

I remember back in the 80s early 90s we were all terrified of dog crap as it made kids blind. You've just reminded me of that. You don't hear about it anymore!

Dog shit is worse because it's where people/kids can step in it in public places, not cat poo as it is buried

Cats shit in the local park sand pit.
They also do it in other people's back garden.

It's not "public" but it's just as dangerous

@HamsterHelp

Isn’t it funny how all dog owners (on here and in real life) are so quick to note that of course they pick up after their dog and would never dream of not doing so.

And yet the pavements are grassy areas are riddled with shite regardless of all these wide-eyed, innocent dog owners.

Not really. If you leave dog poop lying about you'd probably avoid threads like these because they'd make you feel uncomfortable. If you'd spent your life diligently picking up after your animal you'd be attracted to threads like this because you'd be offered a chance to say so and feel ok about yourself.

A bit like how people with high salaries tend to be the only ones that comment on the 'how much do you earn' threads.

I'm all for public shaming for this, but I'm all for the public shaming of families who leave their litter in the park.

@Macncheeseballs

Dog shit is worse because it's where people/kids can step in it in public places, not cat poo as it is buried

That’s strange as not one of the cats that use my garden bury their shit 🤷🏼‍♀️

Found a lovely one on the front grass I nearly stepped in when I got out my car the other day.

Agreed picking up dog shit is a prerequisite for owning a dog.

So what am I todo with a street full of cat lovers who all treat my garden gravel like a fucking street toilet?

I’d be pretty keen for some of this dog vitriol to be pointed to cats who roam and expect everyone else to deal with their shit.

Buried cat poo? That’s a new one!

Huge dog poo problems round here. Some guy let’s his dog off in the local park where it shits in the children’s play area. Can’t count the number of times we have stood in some on way up to school, it’s just awful. Nothing seems to deter the lazy, thoughtless owners. ☹️

@userxx

Cat shit is the worst. Why do the little sods have to bury it! I filled a poo bag from the bed at the front of the house with cat shit the other day. Rank,

I read somewhere that if they bury their shit it’s because they are low down in the local pecking order so need to mask the smell. Top cats don’t bury it so the smell can waft around as a warning to other cats.

I read somewhere that if they bury their shit it’s because they are low down in the local pecking order so need to mask the smell. Top cats don’t bury it so the smell can waft around as a warning to other cats.

That makes sense why next doors cat keeps shitting all over my path. He does seem to rule the roost (and is very unpopular with the rest of the street cats)

@Macncheeseballs

Dog shit is worse because it's where people/kids can step in it in public places, not cat poo as it is buried

Not all cats bury their poo. We have three indoor cats and only one regularly buries theirs.

Pregnant women have to be extremely careful around animal poo. I know of someone whose baby was born with one eye missing and the other with limited sight due to an infection caused by dog poo. This information needs to be out there.

@thatonehasalittlecar

Urban and rural foxes are the primary source of toxocariasis in the UK, not dogs.

As for a dog free country - ha! Why should your fear / non-life threatening allergy trump anyone’s wish to share their life with a pet?

Want a dog free zone, stay at home. It’s as rational as suggesting anyone with a dog keeps them in their own house.

I bet you all have grey interiors with ‘Love Laugh, Live’ emblazoned on some cheap slate and spend so much on Zoflora you’re poisoning the water table.

In my case, my dog allergy prompts asthma attacks. 4 people die of asthma every day in the UK, I'd rather not be one. People can choose to have, and where to take a dog, I can do nothing about my lungs. I hope you have more consideration for nut allergy sufferers.

Your comments are like those of a smoker before the ban

@SomeoneInTheLaaaaaounge

Agreed picking up dog shit is a prerequisite for owning a dog.

So what am I todo with a street full of cat lovers who all treat my garden gravel like a fucking street toilet?

I’d be pretty keen for some of this dog vitriol to be pointed to cats who roam and expect everyone else to deal with their shit.

Bush roses?

@CounsellorTroi well top cat must have paid me a visit last night as he shat next to the door mat by the front door. Bastard cat.

@Witchcraftandhokum

I'm all for public shaming for this, but I'm all for the public shaming of families who leave their litter in the park.

Oh my god yes.

@SomeoneInTheLaaaaaounge

Agreed picking up dog shit is a prerequisite for owning a dog.

So what am I todo with a street full of cat lovers who all treat my garden gravel like a fucking street toilet?

I’d be pretty keen for some of this dog vitriol to be pointed to cats who roam and expect everyone else to deal with their shit.

No vitriol toward dogs here. Dogs are lovely and make wonderful companions for a lot of people. They also do important jobs.

I DO, however, have the rage for irresponsible dog owners. They make things worse for everyone (including other dog owners, as PP's story of being harassed demonstrates).

As for cats, I'm not a fan, personally, and I wish they weren't allowed to go anywhere they want, as the owners aren't technically being irresponsible for letting them do so (though I think it's discourteous at best).