To put out a bowl of water for dogs/cats/wildlife at the end of our driveway?

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I really want to put out a bowl of water for the animals. I've seen a few others doing this and it always makes me think "what a lovely thought". We live at the very edge of a popular hiking trail where lots of people walk dogs and I think it would be appreciated.

However - I have this nagging question "what if someone poisons the water, then everyone thinks you have done it".

People can be sick, i dont want white spirit pouted into the bowl, then to be accused of doing this myself. It's putting me off the idea of doing this nice thing.

YABU - loads of people put out water, you'll be fine
YANBU - its a justifiable concerns; dont do it!

Put it out, if for no other reason the hedgehogs need water.

Put the water bowl out. I’ve never heard of water being poisoned in this way.

This sounds like paranoia or someone who is about to put poison water at the end of their driveway looking to cover their back.....

Where do you live where people are chucking white spirit in water left out for animals? 😕Is this a thing that has actually happened near you or are you just paranoid?

No animal is going to drink white spirit.

Put the water out, but do refill it a couple of times a day (if you can).

If you have a bowl with shallow sides that will be more useful to little wildlife.

It’s a lovely idea!

Why do people want to share dog bowls in public.
Yuck
People can take a dog drink bottle.
Just no.

Dog owners who are like my daughter would not let their dog drink from a random bowl for fear of germs. She takes water with her for her dog. And in this extreme heat she is not walking her dog (short snoot breed).

If OP wants to help wildlife the bowl will need to be shallow. In heat a shallow bowl will need topping up several times a day. It’s a lovely thing to do but be consistent in case the animals become reliant on that bowl.

I put out plenty of water in my garden for wildlife/passing cats, but wouldn’t worry too much about passing dog walkers’ dogs.
If they are responsible owners they should have their own water.
Though I’ve never heard of the white spirit thing - surely an animal could sniff that out before drinking?

People have put slug pellets into little sausages and left them on the hiking trail near where I live trying to poison the dogs - so these awful people are out there😥

No definitely not a future dog poisoner in the midst! Its totally my own paranoia thats making me think the worst in people.

Someone near me does this, they live in a road that leads into a big park popular with dog walkers. I do take a dog water bottle but sometimes I forget if I'm in a hurry or my dog drinks it all...both me and my dog are very grateful to that kind person!

Worried about germs? Dogs spend most of their time smelling each other's arses and smelling each other's shit 🤣🤣

How is that ‘just no’ when it’s the fourth line?

I am baffled at the amount of people who don’t let their dogs drink from publicly available bowls of water. My dogs (Yorkie and Pug) drink from rivers, lakes, streams and puddles as well as fresh tap water. They are dogs not infants.

We have a bowl of dog water on the end of our drive (Peak District, there are more dogs than humans here!). It is very much appreciated.

The only caveat is to be better at not driving over the bloody bowls. No idea how i do this, as it's a big drive, but we keep the charity shops round here in sales of large bowls.

I would make a mini pond in the garden for the hedgehogs and birds instead. Less stress for you.
Lots of dog owners remember to take water these days.

I’ve put a shallow bowl in my back garden for wildlife , but won’t put out for dogs or let mine drink from them either.

Put the water in your garden for cats and wildlife. Surely dog owners will supply their own.

Yes. Cats and wildlife don't know where your proerty line is.

I have water in the back garden for birds and other wildlife and my own dog and out the front on the drive for cats. But i live in an estate and its unlikely dog walkers would come on the drive

You mean poisoned by one of those passersby who happens to have a bottle of white spirits?

This sounds like the razor blades in the apple myth - something that never happens.

My dog will drink from a puddle, but not a shared bowl. Sometimes he will try and tip a shared bowl over. My dog is a dick

Put the bowl out OP.

My dog will drink from filthy ponds and streams even with fresh water available 😂

Personally, I don't let my dogs drink from water when they're out and about. One of my first dogs was horrifically sick many years ago and nearly died - turned out she'd ingested rat poison. She hadn't been out of my sight all morning and the only thing she had touched that wasn't her own food bowl was water from a bowl outside a shop. Probably an accident and it had been contaminated, but I don't ever take the risk now. I'd rather they drank from a filthy puddle (which they won't as they're fussy) than a water bowl outside a shop or house.

It's a nice idea in theory and I am sure lots of dog owners would do it. But equally I would expect a responsible dog owner to have a small collapsable bowl and a water bottle for their dog. I'd just put a few containers in your garden for hedgehogs and birds - just remember to empty and wash them every morning because of the germs that other animals can bring in i.e. BV from Badgers.