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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to object to all the dog shit in my neighbour's garden?

77 replies

MsMitford · 23/09/2021 09:39

Moved in last year, and were puzzled by a fusty, funky, decaying smell in the garden. Finally peeked over the fence and realised that next door's garden was full of several months worth of decaying dog turds. Reported to the Council and it got cleaned up (with a side helping of abuse from our neighbours). A month later it had built up again, reported again, cleaned up again (with more abuse). Stopped reporting for a while as we felt a bit broken by the situation, plus we were trying to address drug problems with the same neighbours, which felt the more pressing of the two problems.

By June the garden really stank again, flies everywhere etc., so I started reporting again. Since June, I have sent a time-and-date stamped photograph of our neighbours' garden to Environmental Health every single sodding week. The garden is still covered in shit, and we've started to see rats running along our fence line and into the neighbour's garden. The whole thing is totally grim, and I don't know what to do if the Council won't respond.

We know that its an offence to gather large amounts of animal faeces in a private garden (Environmental Health Act 1990) - it's clear that the neighbours are in the wrong, legally speaking, but how the heck do I make our Council take action?

Has anyone else had to deal with this? Any thoughts or advice?

OP posts:
wtfisgoingonhere21 · 23/09/2021 14:58

4 large breeds here.

They have their own area so it's contained with a purpose built drainage system and sealed bin with a hose already there.

Gets picked up and cleaned down about three times a day including very early am from the night previously.

Anyone that leaves it for more than a day at most is disgusting.

That's like not flushing your loo and leaving the shit to build up.

That wouldn't be acceptable in the house for humans so it's not friggin acceptable for dogs

They need good clean outdoor areas to graze and pootle and do their business In.

And the poster who said she leaves it for a week that's gross

BOOMshakeshakeshaketheroom · 23/09/2021 15:02

I will never understand dog ownership. Picking up another animals' faeces?! No thanks. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

SoloISland · 23/09/2021 15:04

@LizzieW1969

**God how bad it is? We have a dog and can get pretty lazy with picking up the poo, saving it for a massive clear out once a week. Which I admit is bad and lazy on our part. It has never smelled that bad and we don’t have lots of flies. It must be awful, sorry you’re going through this.

I will also try to get better at picking up the poos**

^Sorry, but I have to agree that that really is gross. I think you must have become immune to the smell, believe me your neighbours will be very aware of it.

Maybe they are smokers and little sense of smell or are just so used to like farmers with cattle,,,

My neigh bour is not always accurate guiding his cattle on the lane so sometimes I get their plop on my drive..
All critters do it after all a nd human poo is the worst there is

SheWoreYellow · 23/09/2021 15:05

@GooodMythicalMorning

How hard is it to pick it up each time? I have 3 and pick it up every time. The kids aren't so great but I get any they miss.
I don’t always see ours do it. Do you watch them all the time? It doesn’t matter, I’m just nosey. I tend to just go out every day or so and pick up.

Someone asking about walks, ours poo on walks but they also poo in the garden.

SoloISland · 23/09/2021 15:06

@BOOMshakeshakeshaketheroom

I will never understand dog ownership. Picking up another animals' faeces?! No thanks. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
hmmmm How about changing nappies?
Still1nLove · 23/09/2021 15:15

@FellInLoveWithABanana

It’s not the worst crime in history, people need to wind their necks in!

Homemadearmy · 23/09/2021 15:24

Did the previous owners do nothing about it? I'm just wondert if it is something they should have declared

RedBonnet · 23/09/2021 15:24

In my time I've met (through work) 2 blokes who let their dogs poo indoors, and never cleaned it up 🤢🤮

One was in a block of flats with no garden but even so.

Bluetitsfly · 23/09/2021 15:46

Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 states all animals should have a clean safe environment. It's the law. Report them. Sorry you have to live next door to shit and shit people.

LimitIsUp · 23/09/2021 15:48

I have four dogs. I pick up once per day but occasionally I might miss a day if lots going on. Once a day is fine for us because my dogs do a lot of pooping on their walks (which I also pick up) rather than in the garden

Chloemol · 23/09/2021 15:50

I would go to the RSPCA.

LimitIsUp · 23/09/2021 15:52

I would second what other posters say about contacting the RSPA. I would also contact my MP to put some pressure on the relevant authorities

EmeraldShamrock · 23/09/2021 15:55

I'm surprised environmental health hasn't been quicker with rats around.
Rspca is the next try.
SS too if there are DC in the house, some people shouldn't have pets.

Mombie2021 · 23/09/2021 15:56

@FellInLoveWithABanana

God how bad it is? We have a dog and can get pretty lazy with picking up the poo, saving it for a massive clear out once a week. Which I admit is bad and lazy on our part. It has never smelled that bad and we don’t have lots of flies. It must be awful, sorry you’re going through this.

I will also try to get better at picking up the poos

That’s rank.

It does stink.

Clean up after your pet properly or don’t fucking have one.

LimitIsUp · 23/09/2021 16:00

Can people stop piling on Fellinlovewithabanana. I should imagine she's got the message now after being harangued by 7 different posters

LST · 23/09/2021 16:00

I have one dog and we poo pick most days. Might miss a day if it's raining but never more than that. I really feel for you op

Mookie81 · 23/09/2021 16:03

@LimitIsUp

Can people stop piling on Fellinlovewithabanana. I should imagine she's got the message now after being harangued by 7 different posters
Don't post you don't pick up shit if you don't want people to comment Hmm.
Shamoo · 23/09/2021 16:07

So so grim. What a nightmare for you.
Our dog eats her own poo if she goes in the garden and we don’t pick it up immediately, which makes me throw up it’s so disgusting 🤮 So I have to hover whenever she looks like she may go and get it before her 😂
Have the council stopped replying OP?
I would email the Council everyday to ask for support, and also report to RSPCA. Not sure what else there is? Legal letter but if they are dicks like it sounds like they are, not sure it will do anything other than make it worse.

Fairyflaps · 23/09/2021 16:34

Do your neighbours own their house? If they do, it is environmental health you have to get to deal with it. If EH are no longer taking action, contact your councillor(s) - you should be able to get their contact details off the council website, and they will be able to add pressure to get something done on your behalf.
If they rent, the state they are leaving the garden in may be in breach of their tenancy agreement. I'm not sure you'd be able to find out who the landlord was yourself, but the council may be able to.
If it's housing association/ council housing, the housing association should have staff dedicated to dealing with anti-social behaviour. You should be able to find information on their website.

Former neighbours of mine (luckily not next-door neighbours) used to deal, and were rumoured to keep their stash hidden in the back garden under a heap of dog shit. The theory behind it was, the police would never search there, and even the sniffer dogs would be put off.

GooodMythicalMorning · 23/09/2021 16:35

Generally yes, the kids say they don't but I'm pretty sure it's just laziness!

StoneofDestiny · 23/09/2021 17:03

Anybody not picking up dog poo straight away is severely lacking in standards.
You poor thing OP.
As for people saying there are no flies.......flies lay their egg in them and the flies multiply. If dog owners don't smell their own dog shit it means they have got used to it and no longer notice - it doesn't mean it doesn't stink.

MsMitford · 23/09/2021 17:06

In response to a few of those comments...

@fairyflaps they are council tenants. I have had extensive correspondence with their tenancy manager about the drug problem, about tbh it was all a bit of a nightmare - he basically accused me of lying (about both the drugs and the dog mess) even though the police had evidenced the drugs and I'd sent photos of the dog mess. It feels a bit shoot-the-messenger: I've had to report drugs, dog mess and noise nuisance, and his attitude is that I'm making a fuss about nothing (apparently "everyone" in council houses behaves like this - his words, not mine). I've put in two official complaints, but it hasn't done any good.

For those that suggested our local councillor - thanks, good idea.

The RSPCA - they are sooooo difficult to get hold of! I spend half an hour on their phone line this lunchtime, gave up and decided to report online. Turns out there's no way to report online. Back to the phone tomorrow, I think. The dogs do have some health issues - one has a limp and the other has a growth on its hind quarters. I do worry that they might not be receiving proper medical care.

OP posts:
gogohm · 23/09/2021 17:09

@FellInLoveWithABanana

Not everyone picks up daily, don't feel too bad, I should add though it does depend on the size of the garden, I used to have 1/4 acre so didn't pick up unless near the house, and we had a composting area anyway. I now have a tiny garden so pick up at least every other day

Whatamesssss · 23/09/2021 17:21

"everyone" in council houses behaves like this Christ, he is in the wrong job. I can't believe a tenancy officer would say this, I think they need re training. Put in an official Complaint with the Council.

Definitely get on to your local Councillor. They will help. I wouldn't waste your time with the RSPCA, they rarely do anything other than put animals down.

BrisbaneandGone · 23/09/2021 17:21

Still gross, why can't you pick up after each shit?

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