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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What to do about dog poo woman?

386 replies

FrankieDobie · 25/09/2021 07:47

There is a tiny elderly woman who walks her dogs past my house every morning. She’s quite well known due to the fact that she’s about 4ft and walks two giant Irish wolfhounds that are 3 times the size of her. Problem is she doesn’t pick up their shit. The dogs often poo right outside my house. I went out to speak to her last week and asked her nicely if she would mind picking up the dog poo and she smiled sweetly and said “I’m 86 dear, if I bent down there I’d never get back up again!” and walked off.
Anyway there was a post on the neighbourhood Facebook page about people leaving dog poo so I replied saying about this lady and was told I was out of order as she’s so elderly!?

WIBU to mention it or even approach her??

OP posts:
Palavah · 25/09/2021 08:44

@TeloMere

I'd pick it up, perhaps I'm the unreasonable one but would hate to think of 86 year old woman having to lose her dogs because she couldn't bend down.
She doesn't have to bend down - she can buy one of the long-handled scoopers or get the dogs to go in her own garden.

Her response made it clear it's her attitude that's the obstacle, not her age.

FourEyesGood · 25/09/2021 08:45

Agree with PPs who say that being elderly doesn’t excuse this woman from her responsibilities (especially as she seems perfectly capable of walking them, which suggests she isn’t as frail as some others have assumed). She’s chosen to have these dogs; she should look after them, including picking up their shit.

Muffinsandfruitcakes · 25/09/2021 08:46

I would report. Her dog shit shouldn't be your or anyone else's problem. She's in effect dumping her dog shit in front of your house for you to clean. CF. If she can't take care of her dogs , she shouldn't own them, don't care how old she is. Or she should pay someone to walk her dogs and clean up after them . I'm sick of dog shit everywhere, regardless of how old the owners are. She should be fined if she does it again.

Caterinasballerinas · 25/09/2021 08:46

What did you say about her on FB? Maybe you need to go back to that post and elaborate/stick up for yourself a bit. Explain that you are dealing in facts, little old lady with wolfhounds doesn’t pick up after them because she can’t, so she IS part of the problem, however you are not just naming her in the hope she will be shamed into picking it up because you’ve already established she can’t. So instead you are asking for the FB community for suggestions, maybe someone knows where she lives and would offer to drop off one of those poo pickers or even dog walk with her and be on pick up duty. If the FB community wants to help you are putting it to them to give ideas. If something like that was your intention then YANBU

MintJulia · 25/09/2021 08:47

If she's capable of walking two big dogs everyday she's capable of using a long handled pooper scooper.

Her being old doesn't stop that poo being dangerous.

You're being had OP, I'd report her to the dog warden.

Cuddlyrottweiler · 25/09/2021 08:48

I love how people seem to admire people just for being old. Nice people don't live longer, it's not soke sign that she's a better person. She doesn't deserve people to pick up her dog shit for her just because she's been alive longer. You don't know that she even loves those dogs. So many assumptions of her character from her being 86.

If she's not capable of picking up their shit, how is she feeding them and giving them water? She's fit enough to walk two huge dogs apparently. Is she bathing them, flea and worm treating them, can she cut their nails, check for injuries. Or if she can afford to pay people to do the rest of their care then she pay for someone to walk them and pick their shit up. There's no excuse to leave shit outside other people's homes. To get caked on kids shoes and people's wheelchair wheels.

Dontjudgeme101 · 25/09/2021 08:49

@whateveryousay

Or just buy some poo bags, and be kind, and go and help her out on the occasion they poo outside your house? I imagine that the dogs are very important to her, and reporting an 86 year old woman to the dog warden, with the stress this could cause her, sounds awful!! No, it’s not your job, but would take seconds out of your day??
No the op shouldn’t do that. This makes me so cross. If you don’t want to pick up your dog poo, don’t have a dog simple! Age of the lady is irrelevant, it’s against the law not to pick up dog poo. We need more dog wardens so they can sue people who do that. It’s a disgusting habit.
TableSetting · 25/09/2021 08:51

It makes me wonder what she does when they poop at home!

Mantlemoose · 25/09/2021 08:51

For a bunch of do gooding save the planet people you're a lot of hard nosed moos! Give the old woman a break. Having an 81 year old mother who after the last 1.5 years is now anorexic and terrified to leave the house and an elderly next door neighbour whose gone loopy due to lockdown I'd pick up their shit if it meant them having a semblance of life! She will (as all talk dog owner should have),have raised bowls and it doesn't matter what size your dog is if it's trained properly anyone can walk them.

KaptainKaveman · 25/09/2021 08:52

If she can't clean up their shit she shouldn't have dogs at all.

I'd pick it up and slip it into her pocket OP. Every time.

Couchbettato · 25/09/2021 08:53

@Theunamedcat

If she can't bend down to pick up the poo how is she feeding them? Are they eating on the table? Maybe?
Tbf Irish wolfhounds could probably eat off the counter top but that makes me feel 🤢 (not envy)
Workinghardeveryday · 25/09/2021 08:53

@Skyla2005 I see your point of view but why should the op have dog poo outside her house all the time because a dog owner isn’t picking up after her dogs.

They are big dogs and she can control/walk them. Also she has to bend down to feed them every day and that’s ok... and put her shoes on etc. She can do all of those things but not pick up the poo!

Being a dog owner doesn’t mean you get to pick and choose which parts you can manage unfortunately. If she was a responsible dog owner she would already have bought one of those poo pickers you don’t have to bend down with.

I say all of the above being a dog owner myself.

Ambersand · 25/09/2021 08:53

You're all horrible. Just pick it up yourself. She's 86 for God's sake. Leave her alone

thelastgoldeneagle · 25/09/2021 08:54

I can't believe some comments on here. This woman is being completely U. If she can't bend to scoop their poo, how would she cope if one ran off? She clearly can't control them.

If she cared, she'd have looked into getting a poo scooper. Disgusting woman.

Couchbettato · 25/09/2021 08:54

Also if they shit in her garden and she can't bend over to pick it up, her yard must fucking stink when the sun hits.

TroysMammy · 25/09/2021 08:55

I don't have a dog because I don't want to pick up shit. Why should the OP pick up another dog's shit because it's owner is 86? There's being kind and being a doormat as people on Mumsnet like to regularly point out.

MadeOfStarStuff · 25/09/2021 08:55

YANBU

Report her. If she can’t bend, there are solutions that don’t involve leaving shit all over the pavement, she just doesn’t care. Sometimes old people are just being arseholes, just like people of every other age are sometimes arseholes.

Tulips15 · 25/09/2021 08:56

@WeatherwaxLives

If she doesn't want to pick up after them she should be making sure they go somewhere it only affects her, like her garden. But no doubt she doesn't want dog shit everywhere - surprise! Neither does anyone else!

Utterly outrageous to suggest OP should pick up after them.

Take photos of the dogs in the act and her walking away and leaving it and report to the council OP.

Yep, record her and reporther everytime you can
Biker47 · 25/09/2021 08:57

Next time it happens, go out a pick it up in a bag, then go smear it all over her front door, windows and door handle.

Farwest · 25/09/2021 08:58

86? I'd just scoop it myself and call it community service.

lljkk · 25/09/2021 09:02

NBU to speak to her, NBU to mention the problem in public forums & NBU to talk to PCSO.
Or dog warden (whoever can slap the giant fines on)
You must know her routine.

I walk dogs for Cinnamon Trust. So not swayed by the "poor old dear can't get any help" argument. If she can afford to feed them she can afford a walker, too.

Skyla2005 · 25/09/2021 09:02

@Biker47

Next time it happens, go out a pick it up in a bag, then go smear it all over her front door, windows and door handle.
Arnt you lovely
CityMumma78 · 25/09/2021 09:02

If she isn’t a responsible dog owner she shouldn’t have dogs! How does she bend down to feed them and provide fresh water in their bowls?!? She’s using her age as an excuse.

rookiemere · 25/09/2021 09:02

@Farwest honestly you'd be happy to pick up huge dog poos every day - big dogs poo is the same size as human ? Perhaps you could go to OPs on a daily basis and help her out.

10yearwarranty · 25/09/2021 09:03

@KaptainKaveman

If she can't clean up their shit she shouldn't have dogs at all.

I'd pick it up and slip it into her pocket OP. Every time.

No - you wouldn't. You're getting carried away behind your keyboard.