What to do about dog poo woman?

[FrankieDobie]

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??

Dunno about anyone else but I'm currently running on 20% belief in OP's veracity.

@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.

But she doesn't have to bend down. Long handled scoopers are available.

Is it not a form of ageism to be calling her poor, disabled and frail when op never said any of these things? Why the assumption that she OBVIOUSLY can’t do something? Are older people incapable of being CFs about anything?
If she’s so frail she shouldn’t have the dogs.
Dog shit can blind you, where’s the humanity and the “be kind” brigade when a child is infected and goes blind?

Completely understand OP and no way should you have to clear up. That would gross me out. Ha e you considered an anti dog device so they don't stop near your property?

We’ve never owned a dog but recently looked after one for a week for a family member, and loved every minute of him being in our home. We walked him 3 times a day, picking up every bit of dog poo - I can’t say I liked doing initially but it just became second nature. If you own a dog it’s what you have to do.
We live in dog walking territory and there are plenty of poo bins but it was blatantly obvious that many of the so called dog lovers we came across may well have adored their dogs but certainly didn’t given a dam about the humans and children who use the area to walk and play. The paths and pavements were poo ridden yet in all the time we were out during the week we didn’t see one unaccompanied dog, which speaks volumes for who is to blame for the mess left behind.
To be fair I only saw one person who watched her dogs poo and then walked on, changing her direction so she didn’t have to pass us. Had I been a more confident dog owner I would have called her back but she had 3 huge dogs to my one and I didn’t want to risk trouble. The mound of poo her dogs left behind was disgusting but as long as it was out of her sight she obviously didn’t care.
Based on the amount of poo I saw during the week, both fresh and dried there must be plenty of dog owners like her and I suspect this old lady is one of them - in my view her age and inability to bend is just a very convenient excuse and the OP is not being unreasonable to report her.
My view is that there can be no concessions. If you own a dog no matter your age you should be responsible for disposing of its poo. One person being allowed to leave poo behind and human nature being what it is, just opens the floodgates for even more dog owners to think it’s OK to do the same.

@lljkk It does seem a bit improbable.

@slashlover

To all the "she's 86!" people - what age is an acceptable age to not pick up dog poo?

If she was 26 would it be ok? If she was 46? 56? 66? At what age is the switch?

Exactly. I'm 31 and have severe arthritis. Am I ok to leave dog shit on the floor?

Haven't read whole thread, but I think some are underestimating the size of wolfhound poo. I wouldn't like to see the state of the pooper scooper after delving into that. Carrier bags are required. I don't believe she can't pick it up, if she can walk and look after 2 dogs that size. She might have to let go of the dogs to do it though.

If she can't clean after her dogs, she shouldn't have them or shouldn't walk them alone. Or she can carry a scooper.

I hope they're well-behaved dogs, because there's no way she can hope to control them, if they decide to bolt. Could be quite dangerous for her and maybe others.

Being 86 doesn’t stop you being an entitled arsehole.
You know all the entitled arseholes who are in their 30s 40s 50s etc? One day they will be in their 80s. You don’t stop being a cunt when you pick up your bus pass.

If she's that frail that she can't bend down, she'd be too frail to control her dog's if they got aggressive...

People who are entitled arseholes at 26 will still be the same when they are 86. The woman didn't even apologise.

YANBU OP

Sorry cross post with @EastWestWhosBest

@ancientgran if they are trained for that, I'm getting myself a couple!

I'll pick up the poo mind 😊

Pretty obvious she doesn't want to do it. Dog poo picking up is quite a recent thing relatively. Certainly no one did it at all even as recently as the 90s. This woman doesn't think she needs to or she would. There are plenty like her. Who knows what their reasons for not are. I notice its worst when rainy, people must think the rain washes it away. Its disgusting and frustrating. We have a phantom pooer too, and I'm also pretty sure it's an old fella further down. I've not seen him for a little while and also no poo either. I hope he's OK. (I'm not sure where he lives exactly before you say I should check).
I think you are sadly gonna have to suck this up. It isn't fair but no one is gonna change this woman's mind set and I doubt the Council will do anything or even care. Older people can be and are anti social too.

@Theunamedcat

If she can't bend down to pick up the poo how is she feeding them? Are they eating on the table? Maybe?

This made me chuckle

Off topic...but a lot of socially isolated older people are socially isolated because they were horrible to their relatives when they were younger. Of course not all. But if you are an arsehole for a lifetime you are not suddenly going to find people beating a path to your door when you become vulnerable and old. If you couldn't be bothered with your children in their adulthood when you had your health etc then why should they suddenly rush to your bedside. Except guilt and obligation. Grumpy older people with antisocial behaviours, pets they can't manage, houses falling apart and a lack of regard for others isn't just old age and a lack of care from society. In part yes. But I bet she's always been like this. Considering others is for a lifetime

@lljkk generous.

@lljkk

Dunno about anyone else but I'm currently running on 20% belief in OP's veracity.

I’m less than that !

Its her responsibility as a dog owner to abide by the law, and that means either she should be picking it up using a long handled scooper or failing that paying somebody to pick it up for her.
Zero excuses

@FrankieDobie

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??

Report it to the council and see if they can help het in some way. I know some councils have mobility aids. In this case, long arm poop scoopers where she would not have to bend down. No excuse then. If you don't want to go through all that you could always just buy her one out of kindness, seeing it as an investment.

www.amazon.co.uk/Uervoton-Pooper-Scooper-Dispenser-Perfect/dp/B07Z1Z1JZX/ref=pd_sbs_3/261-9294186-4858423?psc=1&pf_rd_p=a3a7088f-4aec-4dbd-97cc-9a059581fe7b&pf_rd_r=WGFZH1P2DE37VEAGYZCK&pd_rd_wg=Fk6AD&pd_rd_i=B07Z1Z1JZX&pd_rd_w=WDGRe&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&pd_rd_r=7bb65532-5af8-407c-b038-858f8dabef0b

If OP lives anywhere near me I’d do it. I’ll even provide the poo bags. I live in a place where people would do it without even questioning it.

Have you met an Irish Wolfhound before?!

You'd need a bloody carrier bag - they're HUGE.

no dont be one of those facebook warriors, they are the worst

@icedcoffees

If OP lives anywhere near me I’d do it. I’ll even provide the poo bags. I live in a place where people would do it without even questioning it.

Have you met an Irish Wolfhound before?!

You'd need a bloody carrier bag - they're HUGE.

I know that. I’d still do it.

I mean, good for you I guess @Blossomtoes but as a responsible dog owner, this lady should be picking up after them herself.

She shouldn't be relying on the kindness of strangers when she's being irresponsible and downright unkind by leaving her dogs' shit on the pavement for people to walk in, roll their wheelchairs/buggies through or even slip on.

If she can't bend over, she can buy a pooper scooper with a handle or pay for a dog walker - just as millions of other elderly/disabled dog owners do.