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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:
LST · 25/09/2021 15:21

She can't be in control of 2 wolfhounds if she can't bend to pick their shit up.

PinniGig · 25/09/2021 15:23

There's a lady near us in a wheelchair – double amputee above the knee and she still has her two dogs out x2 religiously over a good two or three mile route and picks up after them as well.

Granted this lady is elderly and bending down maybe not easy for her but he can use a grabber or long handled scooper thingy. I'd be polite and decent but would definitely mention it to her next time that locals are quite rightly starting to complain and the dog warden won't care for her age as an excuse. She'll be fined.

Give her a heads up and at least the opportunity to decide whether she can keep winging this “I'm too old to pick up shit” malarkey.

TheVolturi · 25/09/2021 15:25

She's out of order. How does she bend to put their water /food dishes down? She's shirking her responsibility as a dog owner, because it suits her. Regardless of her age she's in the wrong, especially to be so brazen about it.

TheVolturi · 25/09/2021 15:31

What sort of a place is it that you live @Blossomtoes, that you'd rush over and pick up other people's dogs shit "without question" are you a sub that lives in some weird kinky dungeon?

EmoIsntDead · 25/09/2021 15:37

@icedcoffees

Her age is irrelevant.

If she can't care for her dogs properly she shouldn't have them.

This
Blossomtoes · 25/09/2021 15:52

@TheVolturi

What sort of a place is it that you live *@Blossomtoes*, that you'd rush over and pick up other people's dogs shit "without question" are you a sub that lives in some weird kinky dungeon?
I live in a community where people look after each other. If someone was unable to pick up after their dog, the first person to see it would do it for them. The more I see on MN, the luckier I realise we are to live here. It must be absolutely exhausting to live in some of the places I read about.
Discustard · 25/09/2021 16:01

same age as my dad, he picks the shit up. not on.

a long handled scoop and at least making an attempt is the least i'd expect from someone able bodied enough to walk 2 at once!!

newnameday · 25/09/2021 16:12

I don't think you were wrong to vent on FB considering you asked her first. She's 100% in the wrong for illegally leaving it there. I would take pictures and report. She will get a fine and told to clean it or will lose the dogs. She will have to find a way (be it a scooper, or accompaniment on her walks) but I wouldn't be accepting that. It's not your place to buy her anything or to pick it up and those who suggest it is have some sort of white knight complex.

This is said as a dog owner. And when I was heavily pregnant and unable to pick up my dog's mess, I had someone with me to do it on the days I struggled. I appreciate she may not have anyone, but it's her responsibility to find the work around.

She's definitely a CF the way she made it a joke, not even sorry!

Stillperky39 · 25/09/2021 16:32

Hand her a long handled pooper scooper so she won't have to bend down, I would, well if you can, you shouldn't have to but it seems the only solution. Yuk

AveryGoodlay · 25/09/2021 16:33

The people shouting be kind the loudest are usually always the worst kind of people. They like to say things to sound good but never actually do anything. Always thinking they are better than others. At least the people saying she's irresponsible to have dogs she can't look after are honest! I value honest more than smoke being blown up people's arsed.

I couldn't pick up dog shit without being sick therefore I don't own a dog and I wouldn't pick up after anyone else's. I'm sure people will be along to call me precious.

What I am great at though, is caring for elderly people. I provide all aspects of personal care and I'm not squeamish about that. I just can't deal with dog shit!

I don't believe there are communities of people falling over themselves to pick up other people's animals mess. I've worked in care all over the country and people can't even be arsed to visit their loved ones or just call them, never mind "being kind" to strangers.

rookiemere · 25/09/2021 16:39

Buying her a long handled poop scoop is a waste of money. She has no intention of picking up her dogs poo, otherwise she'd have one already and/or be embarrassed and ashamed when you called her out on not picking it up.

I reckon bag it up and watch out for her coming round next. Hand her the full bag(s) and say - look now you don't have to bend over to dispose of your dog poo. If she refuses to take it then report her to the council for the mess. With any luck she'll encourage them to do their business elsewhere.

1forAll74 · 25/09/2021 16:39

It 's not your job obviously, but I would help her out definitely. ( kindness and all that )

Macncheeseballs · 25/09/2021 16:41

Blossontoes, please come and live near me, there is dog shit everywhere

DeepaBeesKit · 25/09/2021 16:42

Or just buy some poo bags, and be kind, and go and help her out on the occasion they poo outside your house?

Wtf? I choose not to own a dog because the thought of having to pick up its shit makes me want to puke, among other things.

Part of being competent to own a dog includes have the capacity, both physically and mentally, to pick up its shit. It is not the fucking community's job to pick up piles of shit when dog owners can't be bothered to get a long handled picker.

Blossomtoes · 25/09/2021 16:46

I don't believe there are communities of people falling over themselves to pick up other people's animals mess

Nor do I. There’s at least one community where people will do it for those who can’t. No falling over involved.

Acrackineverything · 25/09/2021 16:49

Those people saying they'd pick the poo up themselves. Have you ever even seen an Irish wolfhound? Are you aware that the bigger the dog, the bigger the poo?!

I'm getting on a bit in years and have back problems and arthritis. I also have 2 small dogs and I wouldn't dream of leaving their shit on the path; owning a dog means responsibilities such as picking up after them.

Also, if she has the strength to walk 2 big dogs then she has the ability to operate a long-handled pooper scooper. Yanbu OP.

What to do about dog poo woman?
rookiemere · 25/09/2021 16:54

I think a good indicator of wether "be kind" is an appropriate response, is how grateful the person you are kind to is likely to be.

In this case if you rushed out and cleaned up the dogs enormous turds, the lady would likely laugh at you for being a mug. She clearly does not care about it, otherwise she would have gone for one of the many solutions on this thread.

SoupDragon · 25/09/2021 17:14

@Blossomtoes

I don't believe there are communities of people falling over themselves to pick up other people's animals mess

Nor do I. There’s at least one community where people will do it for those who can’t. No falling over involved.

Presumably those people are apologetic if someone mentions it and would be grateful if someone does it for them. However, this woman just laughed it off and left. That speaks volumes about her community spirit and kindness.
XenoBitch · 25/09/2021 17:20

YANBU
If you are in control of a dog, you have a legal obligation to pick up it's poo. I can imagine you are frustrated as this does not sound like a one or two time event.

I don't think YABU for shaming her on FB either. I would have posted photos of her letting her dogs shit too.

Iwantamarshmallowman · 25/09/2021 18:28

Scoop it up and leave it outside her gate.

Chachachawoo · 25/09/2021 18:41

Agreed!

bellabasset · 25/09/2021 18:55

Our council has an online form you complete to complain about dog poo, you could send a photo of her and the dogs. Check your council website

Irish wolfhounds, good heavens. I was with my ndn's ds's and their friend whilst the parents went out. We live in cottages and the friend had brought the Irish wolfhound. He filled their small kitchen, everything was in reach. As for the poo, the ds's were joking about needing a dustbin bag instead of a poo bag they used for their Springer/collie cross

valleyplaza · 25/09/2021 19:24

OP, I am in the same situation, except it is an old man and a small dog. He gave me the rage when I first moved in, but over time I could see he loves his dog and it would be impossible for him to bend over, even with a scooper because he has a crutch.
Just this week my Dd was late for school because we had to come back in an wash shit off her shoe, but I still can't imagine reporting him. His dog really is his best friend and I would lose alot of sleep over it!

XenoBitch · 25/09/2021 19:34

@valleyplaza

OP, I am in the same situation, except it is an old man and a small dog. He gave me the rage when I first moved in, but over time I could see he loves his dog and it would be impossible for him to bend over, even with a scooper because he has a crutch. Just this week my Dd was late for school because we had to come back in an wash shit off her shoe, but I still can't imagine reporting him. His dog really is his best friend and I would lose alot of sleep over it!
Sounds rather to different to OP seeing a 4ft nothing lady with 2 wolfhounds (giant breed, so she could probably ride one!), and the lady claiming she wont be able to get up after picking up their shit... and this cheeky lady happy to leave a pile of excrement to make an elephant proud on OP's driveway.. often!
pigsDOfly · 25/09/2021 19:48

Those people saying they'd pick the poo up themselves. Have you ever even seen an Irish wolfhound? Are you aware that the bigger the dog, the bigger the poo?!

Absolutely.

I have a small dog and one of the reason's I like having a small dog is that I don't have to pick up massive poos. It's revolting.

I sure as hell wouldn't be picking up someone else's massive dog's poos.

If the woman is too old and frail to pick up the dog poos then she's too old and frail to be in charge of two enormous dogs.

Owning dogs is not a right. If she wants to have dogs she needs to realise that with the ownership comes certain responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities is clearing up after your dog so that other people don't tread in it and get it on their shoes or their children's shoes or the wheels of their buggies or mobility scooters and then walk it into their homes.

The women is a selfish menace. Being old is no excuse and there's no earthly reason why she should get away with not picking up her dog's leavings.

Print out a picture of a long handled pooper scooper from a local pet shop, OP, and next time her dog poos outside your house, give her the picture and tell her to buy one before she's reported and ends up with a large fine.