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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
UrbanRambler · 23/09/2021 17:35

YANBU, you have my sympathies. This is another situation which makes me think that schools need to have good citizenship classes as part of their curriculum, to include things like being responsible and considerate neighbours, responsible pet ownership, and educating people not to litter the environment and not to inflict noise pollution on other people. It's all about consideration for the environment and other people. Report to the council and your MP, and of course the landlord/managing agent if they are tenants. As for this needing to be declared when you sell, maybe it won't be a problem provided that it has been dealt with, whereas if you don't report it and the problems continue this could prevent you selling at all.

Fairyflaps · 23/09/2021 17:42

Good grief, the tenancy manager sounds like he's in the wrong job if he (a) thinks all council tenants behave like that; (b) would rather blame you and pretend there's not a problem, rather than do his job.

LST · 23/09/2021 18:20

@BrisbaneandGone

Still gross, why can't you pick up after each shit?
The reason I don't is because my dog goes out whenever he wants and the back door is open all the time. Well in the summer at least. I am also disabled so it takes me a bit of time to get up to the steps to the lawn so I tend to only do it once a day. There is only normally 1 poo to pick up anyway unless he has a late night one.
WeAreTheHeroes · 23/09/2021 18:22

@UrbanRambler

YANBU, you have my sympathies. This is another situation which makes me think that schools need to have good citizenship classes as part of their curriculum, to include things like being responsible and considerate neighbours, responsible pet ownership, and educating people not to litter the environment and not to inflict noise pollution on other people. It's all about consideration for the environment and other people. Report to the council and your MP, and of course the landlord/managing agent if they are tenants. As for this needing to be declared when you sell, maybe it won't be a problem provided that it has been dealt with, whereas if you don't report it and the problems continue this could prevent you selling at all.
Why does it have to be the responsibility of schools to teach this? Parents should deal with kind of thing.
StoneofDestiny · 23/09/2021 18:42

"everyone" in council houses behaves like this"

So if you rent your house you automatically do drugs, keep to nes of dog shot on show and disturb your neighbours?
What an utterly offensive thing to say.

CandyLeBonBon · 23/09/2021 19:06

[quote gogohm]@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[/quote]
I'm the same. Sometimes it doesn't happen. If you haven't got young children needing to go in the garden, or you don't spend much time in your garden, picking up every other day is not harming anyone. I try to do it daily but sometimes it doesn't happen. I take her out first thing and she has a poo then which I bag up and dispose of and she only has one poo a day, occasionally two so it's hardly gopping after 2 days!

SheWoreYellow · 23/09/2021 19:34

@BrisbaneandGone

Still gross, why can't you pick up after each shit?
How do you know they’ve done one though? I asked above, do you stand and watch the whole time they are out there?
Jessmary94 · 23/09/2021 19:42

Have you tried ringing 101 and seeing if the police can help? I’m not sure if they will but animal welfare the do sometimes cover & assist the RSCPA a lot as they have to go and seize the animals the RSPCA want to remove from places
X

Original poster
MsMitford · 24/09/2021 14:37

For all those suggesting the RSPCA...

I've just spoken to them. Apparently massive amounts of dog mess in a private garden is not considered a sufficient reason for the RSPCA to get involved, unless the dogs appear to be suffering in other ways. They've suggested that I write to the council again ...

OP posts:
Gothichouse40 · 24/09/2021 14:42

At least it's in your neighbour's garden. Try having cat excrement that absolutely stinks every day in your garden. Cat owners don't give a toss.

LimitIsUp · 24/09/2021 14:48

@MsMitford

For all those suggesting the RSPCA...

I've just spoken to them. Apparently massive amounts of dog mess in a private garden is not considered a sufficient reason for the RSPCA to get involved, unless the dogs appear to be suffering in other ways. They've suggested that I write to the council again ...

Annoying

A solicitors letter to the council reminding them of their responsibilities?

LST · 24/09/2021 14:56

@Gothichouse40

At least it's in your neighbour's garden. Try having cat excrement that absolutely stinks every day in your garden. Cat owners don't give a toss.
I knew they'd be one 🤣
nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 24/09/2021 15:05

It's not the RSPCAs remit. More environmental health than anything I'd think.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 24/09/2021 15:07

At least it's in your neighbour's garden. Try having cat excrement that absolutely stinks every day in your garden. Cat owners don't give a toss

They do if you lob it back and accidentally get their washing with it.

FooFighter99 · 24/09/2021 15:12

@stokiemum62

Agree RSPCA, they must have a fair number of dogs to make that amount in a week so the dogs may well be neglected in other ways. The RSPCA can prosecute and confiscate if necessary.
Not necessarily, we have a large dog and she can go 3 or 4 times a day depending on how she feels.

@MsMitford keep reporting them to Environmental Health, start copying in your local MP and start reporting them to the RSPCA

We pick up after our DDog as soon as she's done a poo, because I don't want her walking in it (she's a clumsy puppy) and because the flies end up in the house and it's just a bit grim to leave a sodding great dog turd lying around!

LakieLady · 24/09/2021 15:14

It's not an MP issue, it's a local Council issue. So start with your Councillors. Complaints that come in via Councillors are given more weight than those that come in from individuals

Twenty years in local government taught me that if anything goads the council into action better than a councillor on the case, it's a letter from an MP!

MP cases were referred to CEOs at all 4 councils I worked for. councillor complaints generally were generally forwarded to the manager of the relevant service.

I'd start with your local councillors though, OP, and give dates/times that you reported the problem.

If your neighbours aren't council tenants, it will take a lot longer to resolve as they will ultimately have to be prosecuted, and that takes ages.

bellabasset · 24/09/2021 15:15

My ndn's never sweep or clean their path behind their house, and the water flows through my path to next door. The smell of dog urine and filthy drain are revolting. I had to report to Environmental Health. So yes it's totally unacceptable.

Contact your MP with a copy to the Council is my best suggestion.

MrsRobbieHart · 24/09/2021 15:16

@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

Your poor dog! Imagine having to sit over a weeks worth of your own poo every time you went to the toilet. 🤮
Machchchengo · 24/09/2021 15:17

I have the same. Bloody stinks. Young couple who work from home, they are just lazy fuckers, don't even walk the poor thing. Hilariously they had a cheek to moan about school kids chucking crisp packets in their garden on the local fb page. Yes neighbours, crisp packets are the problem Hmm.

RandomMess · 24/09/2021 15:28

Is it not an environmental health issue?

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 24/09/2021 15:36

As did I...

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 24/09/2021 15:37

@LadyMonicaBaddingham

As did I...
Sorry. That was supposed to quote a pp I agreed with. I'll get my coat... Blush
Gooseysgirl · 24/09/2021 15:42

Our psycho next door neighbours also do this... about once a fortnight the husband goes out and picks up all the shit so at least it's not there too long. His lazy arse wife never does it. The dog is regularly left alone crying all day long. The irony is it's a school therapet (a therapet that needs therapy!) Seriously some people should just not be allowed to own pets!!

Original poster
MsMitford · 24/09/2021 16:51

@LakieLady

It's not an MP issue, it's a local Council issue. So start with your Councillors. Complaints that come in via Councillors are given more weight than those that come in from individuals

Twenty years in local government taught me that if anything goads the council into action better than a councillor on the case, it's a letter from an MP!

MP cases were referred to CEOs at all 4 councils I worked for. councillor complaints generally were generally forwarded to the manager of the relevant service.

I'd start with your local councillors though, OP, and give dates/times that you reported the problem.

If your neighbours aren't council tenants, it will take a lot longer to resolve as they will ultimately have to be prosecuted, and that takes ages.

I think this may genuinely be the most useful thing that I have ever read on Mumsnet (apart from LTB, obviously...) Always helpful to know how organisations work from the inside. Thank you!
OP posts:
Notcontent · 24/09/2021 17:37

I am quite puzzled by this. So I assume that people who let their dogs poo in the garden don’t really use their garden very much? Because it would get rather smelly and revolting…