I didn't pick my dog's poo up

[JennaRotersy]

I was walking home late at night. Secluded road, usually hardly anyone around. A dam at one side, lined with trees..houses the other (I walk on this side as the opposite is very dark).

About half a mile or so from my house. Dog alerted, had heard something. I turned around and there was a man lurking around in the trees across the road , just standing there, wearing all dark clothes, could just about see him. I couldn't tell in the dark whether he was looking toward us or not. I picked up pace, glanced behind me and saw him walking, still opposite side of road but in the same direction. I was unnerved (I've been followed before, robbed before) and started walking much faster. Dog stopped to ppoo. I didn't pick it up. I was panicked, he was about 150-200 yards from me by the time she'd finished pooing and I just scarpered off.

I know I was being unreasonable but next time I looked the man had totally disappeared, assuming hiding in the trees again, he was not there for any good reason in the middle of the night? Doesn't mean he's the next Levi Bellfield of course.

I felt guilty the next day and picked 2 piles up on my dog walk to 'make up' for it!

Where dog had 'gone', it wasn't somewhere people were likely to step. It isn't a rural road but It has a wide path on that side and some bushes, and she'd done it more or less under a bush but if I am honest, I think I'd have still scarpered even if it was on the pavement as I was scared.

Your safety was important. But I would have gone back the next day to pick it up. Maybe you still could?

Don't give this any more headspace OP. Glad you're OK.

This a thousand times! Glad you are ok

Lordy, don't worry about it, your safety is much more important. Also, please log this incident with 101 (the man, not the poo!).

I admire your faith in human nature, sadly there’s always someone to have a go.

OP, I take a hard line on picking up dog poo, but you made the smart choice here, your safety comes first. Glad you got home ok, don’t fret about the dog poo!

Thanks again all.
I live in a safe area too-very low crime rates. I have still been followed twice (potentially three times but I am not 100% sure on the 3rd one).
It infuriates me to be honest, about some men. Just how dare they do things like that? But I know they do. Hence me being so afraid that night.

“101, how can we help”

”I would like to report an incident”

”Ok, what happened ?”

”A man existed”

Do you have a torch? I have a great one that someone bought me. Really small, very bright, lasts ages on a charge and I can leave it in my pocket.

I can't recall the make, but I'll look it up if you're interested @JennaRotersy

Who are the 12% who think you should have picked up the dog poo and risked being murdered??!!

Because people are sick to fucking death of it?

I think your situation is one of the few exceptions OP. Safety first.

Well your dog really chose her moment to poo didn't she!
I might have picked it up ready to use as a self-defence weapon - push it into the face of an attacker. But you were fine to leave it under the circumstances.
Possibly the man was only out walking his dog too? I hope you are ok now.

I find it interesting that it's apparently OK not to pick up if you're young and feeling scared of being attacked (whether or not there's anything to be scared of) but it's apparently not OK not to pick up if you're old and feeling you can't do it (whether or not you might be able to). It saddens me that the empathy being shown on here isn't being extended to the elderly lady on the other thread by the majority of posters.

FWIW I think both are OK as a one off, but long term both need a better solution.

I voted YABU for even having to ask. Of course YANBU.

Pack it in. We heard you the first time.
@JennaRotersy YANBU always safety first.

As a dog-hater-in-chief, you have my absolution for exceptional circumstances and subsequent offseting.

I hate seeing dog poo just left but in this case you were right not to do it. I always pick up my dogs poo but I would’ve left it too.

I mean I hate dog shit being left, but your personal safety is far, far more important.

Because people hate dog poop so much, they’d rather someone put themselves in possible danger.
Not me of course, because I’m not insane.

YANBU OP I’d have left it if I felt in danger too, along with 100% of the human race! Self preservation and all that!

Me.

I walk my dogs at 5AM in the dark. I very often see people (drunks heading home and just random - some heading to the station, some not). I live in a country village with dark lanes.

I still pick up my dogs shit. It takes 20 seconds (and that is if it’s liquidy!)

If idiocy like suggesting the OP calls 101 is posted twice then I will respond to it twice. Sorry if that bothers you Thread Police.