Not clearing dog poo if you're too old/infirm?

[PipsHip]

My neighbour is ancient and quite bent over. She walks her dog on the footpath past my house (not pavement but a path heavily used by children etc) and obviously it poos. She doesn't pick it up but I doubt she can.

Legally she has to (I'm in Scotland and the exemptions are for registered guide and assistance dogs only). But I'm wondering what general public opinion is on whether it's okay? I don't intend to speak to her about it or anything as we have bigger issues round here than this one lady, but I'm curious what other people think.

YABU - the lady and her dog come first. Her being able to walk her dog may be her great joy so let her crack on. It would also be cruel to the dog not to walk it.

YANBU - it's a shame, but her dog's poo could potentially get in a toddler's mouth. She should keep her dog at home or pay someone to walk it (if she can afford to).

Bit of both really but I would go and pick it up for her. Likely once the dog goes she won’t be far behind it.

I'd pick it up for her and say nothing tbh. An elderly gent round here uses a scoop on a stick so he doesn't have to bend down which could be an option if she asked for help.

Unfortunately the elderly round me are the biggest culprits when it comes to not clearing up dog mess closely followed by teenagers. I work from home & my desk directly overlooks the local park so can say this with some confidence. Really pisses me off and I have been known to shout out of the window if they are close enough

her dog's poo could potentially get in a toddler's mouth

What on earth...?

Moving on, if you like this lady and you want to help, I'd just pick it up for her. She should be picking it up, but if she's physically unable then she needs help to.

You mean that once the dog goes, she won't be far behind it as in shitting on the pavement? 🤭😉

If she cant physically pick it up then the alternative is she gets a dog walker or just lets the dog into her garden. She’ll then stay at home, lose incredibly important daily activity and opportunity for social interaction.

Old person suffering from loneliness, becoming inactive and suffering health wise or a dog turd on the pavement? I don’t mind the turd in this scenario-or more likely would just pick it up for her.

I would turn a blind eye or pick it up

Btw if you ever don't see her on her walk it would be extremely neighbourly of you if you know what door she's at to check in on her. Also she finds she cant walk the dog at all atleast in England we have the Cinnamon Trust who arrange volunteer dog walkers.

Surely there are devices for this?

I've just googled and there are loads. I'd buy her one and leave it on her doorstep.

I think that dogs are often companions for the elderly, they get them out of the house, they are a way to strike up conversation with strangers, they are a real positive to their quality of life. If she can't pick up the poo, she can't pick it up, Iif I saw it happen I'd offer to do it for her but other than that let the old woman pootle about with her dog in peace.

I couldn't get annoyed about this. Not when people who are perfectly able aren't picking up their dog's shite, that's the real issue.

Surely she just needs a pooper scooper with a long handle.

We’ve had this exact situation in our village and an elderly man with dementia was caught on CCTV not picking his dog poo up. Was shamed on fb…..in fairness to the poster they did not know who he was/that he had dementia. Village went bonkers, very split on the issue. Half saying leave him alone, the other half saying no he can’t leave dog poo all over the place.

There are long handled dog poo scoops available. Odd that the only exemptions are for the groups of dogs least likely to 'go' on the street.

I struggle to pick dog shit up. So dp normally does it and him and the dc walk the dog. I use a long handled picker upper for the garden. There is no excuse. If she can walk the dog (something I can't do) she can use a long handled shit picker

Long scooper... Can't scoop =no ddog imo..

Maybe a new slogan..
Not a scooper? Don't buy a pooper....

If she’s not able to pick up the poo, or able to use something else to deal with the poo, then she shouldn’t have a dog.

@PipsHip if she cannot clean up and look after dog properly then she should not have one in the first place!

Me too. Not a hill to die on.

id probably just go and pick it up I mean she should let her dog shit in her garden but she isn't yoy are not going to say anything or help her so what do you think should happen?

I don't think being elderly is a reason to let your dog shit everywhere and not pick it up - if she can't bend down then she needs a pooper scooper with a long handle.

Dog poo isn't any less disgusting because the owner is older.

I also wonder if the people saying "I wouldn't say anything" or "this isn't a hill to die on" are the same posters complaining about their toddlers/children dreading in dog shit on the school run everyday?

Here its like they are intending on someone stepping in it.
You can make a dog go towards the wall etc but they in the middle of the pavement.
So i would mind less if the lady is keeping it to the side...
Realistically people who have dogs need to be able to bend down.
If they have a dog they are likely to maintain the ability.

Also some horrible person let theirs go on pavement outside our drive, on the school road. And a person had kicked it within the 10min between me seeing it and being able to go out and sort it.
So very likely small amount over the school carpets

Our neighbour is in a wheelchair and uses a scoop. She's a marvel for scolding teenagers and perfectly fit men in their 50s (our local main culprits for leaving dog poo) when she spots them leaving the poo. Well deserved pink faces when she says "If I can do it, why can't you?"

If she can't manage a scoop, then how is she brushing the dog, feeding the dog, replenishing water etc? Scoopers work for most elderly and I do think if someone can't care for a pet, then they should get extra support or rehome it. Much better than leaving the dog improperly cared for and leaving the rest of us to run the risk of dog poo traipsed through schools, doctor surgeries, homes etc.

Most of those dating they would trot round after her nobly picking up the poo - maybe once when it's middle of the path and unavoidable by your house, otherwise sorry but this sounds very unlikely so it isn't a solution.