Dog using grass verge?

[namechanger0002]

Sorry for the terrible title. Obviously name changed.

I'd just mown and strimmed the grass verges in front of my house and was in process of sweeping. I stopped sweeping temporarily as people approached on the path so they could get past. One woman and her dog left the path and started walking directly over one of the verges. She then let the dog stop and use the grass as a loo, it was crouched and she waited, she had a waste bag ready in her hand, but didn't need to use that.

I didn't say anything but I thought it was inappropriate and rude. I'd clearly just mowed it and now there will be a patch where the dog used it. I know I don't own the verge but I maintain it (the local authority only does them once every few months and not well). I'm not a dog owner and wondered if this was normal and I'm being unreasonable.

But it is not their front garden
It's a grass verge
I would never allow my dog to go into someone's garden
But this is a grass verge

I also look at it as the dog version of Twitter.

Pisser is you will

A dog wees, another will sniff and wee on top, and another will sniff and wee on top of that.

It’s like Rover has tweeted, Fido replied and Fifi replied after that.

😂😂

It just seemed rude and entitled

The irony! What's entitled is expecting a dog not to pee on a public area of grass that you don't own because you've decided to maintain it.

If it was your garden or private property that's completely different but it isn't - as you've said, you don't own this grass! Do you know how many other animals have also probably peed there??

@Babdoc obviously if it's their front garden that would be awful but its a public grass verge is fine. I wouldn't even bat an eyelid if it was on the outside of my forecourt wall TBH.

I don't suppose I'd have ever known about it (aside from a brown patch) if I hadn't been out there and the owner had cleaned up most of any mess. I didn't say anything to the owner as I didn't know what was usual, as I've already said.

People don't walk on the grass verges either, and they're directly in front of our walls, with a narrow flower bed near the wall, then there's a path next to the road. I had stopped to let her pass on the path, and was standing there waiting,

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?

You think people should train their dogs to go into the road to pee? I can imagine drivers just loving that idea, they dislike cyclists and horse riders using it as it is, and they are supposed to be there...

Also, a grass verge is not someone's garden.

OP you don't get a brown patch from one dog wee. Mine pees on my lawn and the grass is fine.

I'd find something else to worry about if I were you.

Yep that possibly is the most bonkers thing I've read all week. Also, calling dogs 'dirty.' Very rude.

Why would there be a brown patch after one wee?

Thanks for the civil replies and the perspective!

I've heard it referred to as pee-mail. Dogs don't just pee because their bladder is full. Everywhere outside of your home will be covered in the pee and poo of wildlife but people don't seem to worry about that.

You expect a dog owner to walk their dog over onto the road enough times and frequently enough that their dog will prefer to squat over a drain? How would a small dog even manage this? My past dog wouldn't even pee on anything but grass unless absolutely desperate with no alternative. Also a road side verge is not someone's garden, they're public and maintained by the council.

Dogs are like toddlers, they have some ability to hold it but can't necessarily plan ahead or communicate that they need either a wee/poo but rather they go in the moment or ask to be let out. As I said above, some of them won't even go on anything but grass and most at least have a preference.

Ha ha, bonkers post and bonkers response from @Babdoc. How very dare animals wee on the publicly owned land near to your home! 🤣🤣

Maybe the council were letting the grass grow long for pollinators and you've just ruined that. She has as much right to use the verge as you do, and arguably you are damaging the environment more than her dog is. Look up No Mow May.

Our grass verges aren't mowed for a reason, it's beneficial for wildlife especially bees. They are all brimming with wildflowers currently and I would be annoyed if a busybody neighbour mowed them. Dogs are just fine though

This is utterly bonkers, surely can’t be real?!

Well yes, allowing your dog into other peoples gardens to shit and puss is unreasonable but that's not what the OP is about. She's talking about a public grass verge, totally different.

Can we just talk about how cats are allowed to shit everywhere though, and owners don't have to pick it up?? Makes me. 😡

So what’s a suitable time after mowing before you consider it acceptable?

I've heard of no mow May, and that's definitely not what the local authority is doing. My neighbours and I have maintained the verges for years, and the surrounding flower beds.

People don't even generally walk on the verges here, except occasionally for access, unless that's something I don't know much about either.

Dog pee will not turn the grass brown. If that was the case my front garden would be v brown!

I know I don't own the verge but I maintain it (the local authority only does them once every few months and not well). I'm not a dog owner and wondered if this was normal and I'm being unreasonable.

Well most local authorities only trim the verges every few months because they are encouraging long grasses and wildflowers, creating habitats for insects and bees. Depending on whether the local authority are wanting tussokcy grasses or wildflowers will also depend on the management plan - how frequently they are mown and whether they will leave the cuttings or take them away. You probably think the area outside your house looks rubbish but it’s because you have no idea what the management plan is and if you’re following it.

Thanks for the laugh op! 😂