Dogs pooing by children's play area

[hotpotmama]

I had such a big argument today with an old woman who was letting her dogs poo right next to the children's play area at a park near us today. They were pooing all over the place.It's an assualt course that runs alongside a path. She did pick some of it up with a bag but I think its disgusting that she let the dogs poo so close to where the children play.

She was arguing that the play area should be railed off, I was telling her she shouldn't let them poo there, how about her back garden instead.

Grrrrrr, get so angry with dog poo anywhere near where children play.

Next time take a plastic bag with you, bag it up and put it in her handbag.

She was picking it up so I'm sorry but I think this is an over-reaction

I'm with you on this. Am fed up of dog poo. Can't they crap in their own gardens?

I have to agree to this being an overreaction. No good if she wasnt picking up but cant see what the problem is
That said I never take my dogs near playgrounds but thats because of kids teasing them and stroking with out asking etc.

She was picking up bits of it but the dogs were pooing all over the place and she didn't have enough bags, so not really an over-reaction. And am sure you wouldn't say that if it was your kids that were blinded by it.

If picking it up gets rid of it all then why don't dog owners let the dogs poo in their own gardens and just pick it up.

Dogs should be banned from near playgrounds as its not fair on the children who are frightened of them when inconsiderate owners let them roam all over without a lead. We don't know if they are friendly or are about to attack them.

Fencing off the play area might not even help. There is a little play area in a fenced off area near where I live, clearly marked "No dogs". I saw a man with a dog approach the play area, he went in with his dog (even though he had seen me and DS). The man sat down on the bench and ate a pasty and let his dog off the lead to run free inside the fenced play area . I don't go there any more because the previous time I went there, there was loads of broken glass inside the fenced area. It's just sad that a children's play area is only suitable for use by teenagers out drinking and dogs!

The chances of the children being blinded are very slim and that's if the dogs arent wormed. I am not sure how I'd be able to get my dogs to only poo at home. Guess it's possible but no guarantees.
I am guessing if the dog was pooing everywhere it must have had a stomach upset which the owner wouldnt have expected.

I remember someone on a thread posting once about how much we have taken away from animals re land bu building etc and still cant bear to allow them space alongside us.

I dont get though why you'd take dogs near to a childs area though as I said other peoples kids can be real pains.

friend of ours was blinded in one eye by dog crap as a child and, tbh, it is very noticeable and has had a big effect on him in many ways.

Hotpotmama, maybe write to council asking that the play area be fenced off and dog free? at least she was trying to pick it up - so many people don't bother!

It's an awful thing to happen but still unlikely.

Dog's mess is a huge bugbear of mine and I regularly ring the council about it, but would you have had the same argument if it was a young man with the dog?

If she was picking it up, she's one of the good ones.

If her dogs were pooing "all over the place" and she was trying to pick it up bit didn't have enough bags it sounds as though she was having a bit of a disaster - maybe the dogs were unexpectedly ill? Poor dogs and poor woman.

Can't see any reason at all why dogs can't go near a childrens' play area. Arses who don't pick up their dog poo are another matter and I get very cross about that.

But then my dd and my dog are curled up on the sofa together watching a cartoon and sharing a biscuit, so I think perhaps I'm not quite on the same wavelength as you when it comes to dogs hotpotmama !

I am totally with you on people who do not keep their dogs under control, or who don't pick up the dog poo. In my first post though you had not made it clear that she was not picking all of it up. I am writing as a mother and a dog owner - I did infact have words myself with another dog owner last weekend over the "under control" issue. As for pooing in their own gardens - then yes, my dog does - as well as when out. You can't stop a call of nature when the dog needs it. I am happy to clear my own garden up though and still happy to let my own kids play out there too. I am also responsible enough to take plenty of bags with me and clear up. I also have often donated bags to other dog owners when I see them walk off and try to leave a deposit their dog has done.

AFAIK only poo from dog's with roundworm could cause blindness.

I agree though, she was trying to do her best to pick it up, and if the dogs had an upset tummy and were spraying poo everywhere, it wouldn't be very easy to try and scoop that up! One of my dog's had diarrhea yesterday and it was just like liquid. I live in the country though.

I don't think is an overraction, every dog owner knows that you can not remove all the poo with a bag. And I really wouldn't appreciate my children, or any children for that matter, putting their hands where there are remains of poo and plenty of dried urine.

IMO there should be fenced areas for the dogs to poo in, as there are in other countries. It seems stupid to me that our children have to be fenced up in small areas and the dogs have all the freedom to rummage around.

(Yeah I know that most dog owners are very responsible owners but there are some that undo the work some of us do).

MeMysonandI - there is a fenced area in our local park which does get used. Unfortunately, so does the pavement outside of the park, and the pavement just further down my road where my children walk daily Cleaning up dog's mess in Belgium is unheard of. I have found that Bristol the city where I come from has vastly improved in cleaniness since I left 10 years ago.

Fenced area for dog poo is a good idea. In fact, dogs should wear nappies. Am sick of having to clean it off my children's shoes/ wellies when I don't even have a dog.

BG, I did write that she picked up some of it in my first post which implies not all of it.

And yes, I would have the same argument with man/woman, young or old, it is still disgusting whoever the owner is.

If one child is blinded then that is too many as far as I'm concerned.