Stopped and asked to see poo bags - is that acceptable?

[ladytramper]

Was walking dog today on the grounds of a housing estate (nothing fancy, but the green areas are managed privately, yet it is public accessible land and permitted for all dog walking nontheless) and the maintenance operative said, 'We've had some incidents here with people not picking up and I take their photo and get them prosecuted, so can I check do you carry bags?' Me, 'Yes, definitely, gives the rest of us a bad name, no excuse!' smile and nod. Him, after a long pause... 'Well, can I actually see them then?' 'Er...ok', show bags. Now, though, I'm feeling peeved that he didn't trust my word and at his rather bullish attitude (also thinking he was emboldened by the fact of me being a woman and younger than him).. Should I take it on the chin, or was he being OTT?

There's a PSPO here which means any council official can ask you to prove you have poo bags with you. I think they can actually fine you if you don't have any.

Enforcement... Low.

I wish they had someone doing that around my way...

It’s not like he asked to see your knickers.

Dog poo is a massive problem, particularly after lockdown, and there’s not nearly enough action taken against it. Good on him for being proactive.

Just because people have bags, it doesn’t actually mean they’ll pick up though. There are some dog owners who use bags if their dog is seen having a poo, if there are no witnesses they walk on. Obviously those that hang the bags in trees, in hedges and on gate posts obviously have bags but just can’t be arsed to actually carry it.

Good dog walkers can also forget their poo bags. We’ve done it a few times and had to stop at a pet shop/garden centre on our way to the destination to buy emergency poo bags. We usually carry a roll in the car, for emergency situations, but we have used the emergency roll and not replenished. We usually realise before we start walking.

Obviously people need to pick up the poo but asking people if they have bags isn’t actually solving the issue.

I probably would of been abit annoyed he didn't believe me, but I don't blame him for doing his job.
We have a real issue with disgusting, selfish dog owners who keep letting their dogs crap all over the grass in the park, as well as in the grass at the childrens park. I can't even let my dc toddler run free on the grass, incase she steps in it. Actually, I wish we had someone like him round our area to catch the dirty gits!

I always carry more than I think I need. I'd be a bit hmm if someone asked to see if I was carrying any but wouldn't be annoyed by them asking to see them.
I would be much happier if the powers that can would do something about the amount of people who do not pick up after their dogs. I wish more people were fined.

I can't see which areas fine for non carrying of bags, but this link below is about it.

www.dfordog.co.uk/blog/fines-for-not-carrying-poop-bags.html

@Viviennemary

I think its fair enough. Dog muck is vile. If you had the bags then show them. I bet you didn't.

OP already said she showed him the poo bags in the end, did you read the OP properly? I bet you didnt.

I have a friend who is involved with her local council. Protecting the rights of decent dogwalkers.....the wardens there will randomly ask to see peoples poobags because you would be AMAZED at how many people say they have got bags and when challenged actually don't....and its not that they have lost them or used them, they were just lying. the wardens are kind and will give folk bags and at the same time warn them to be prepared in future.

Although I can see why this is a bit annoying, left dog poo is far more annoying.

I don't think he was unreasonable to ask to see them. Most people would automatically say yes they have bags even if they don't. I assume you're not a fan of owners leaving dog poo everywhere so really he's doing you a favour by asking.

Dog poo is vile and I say that as a proud dog owner! Lead ,Bags .Keys is my mantra. He was doing his job and thoroughly as well!

You should have said "oh yes it's hanging on that tree, over there somewhere" and point vaguely behind you.

Not really, DON'T do this! And don't hang poo bags on trees either.

I’d have no problem at all showing bags and proving I’m a responsible dog owner.
I can’t stand idiot owners who leave dog shit around.
DH accosted a bloke walking his dog whilst dropping his primary school daughter off to school. He’d let the dog crap on the pavement, where loads of little kids would be skipping merrily to school, but didn’t even have a bag! DH handed him a tissue and told him to pick it up.

I went to my village shop a week ago, well after closing time, to post a letter in the post box near by. I went to the shop front, to look at a couple of notices on the window. There is a largish ceramic bowl about a foot away from the doorway, used for water, for any dogs. Inside,in the water, there was two large dog turds. I don't have an Iphone to take a photo !
And don't yet know the mystery of these turds in a bowl.

I was surprised that someone else who may have seen it, hadn't posted on fb community about it, as the village has quite a few persons, who go around taking dog poo photo's which they come across.

There are a few dog poo bins and bags around the village,

Dog shit is really a filthy menace the whole country over.

I think this behaviour is ok and I was under the impression that you can be stopped and asked to show bags. By a dog warden or some such person.

I do have a dog and wouldn’t dare go out without more bags than I need

Our LA environmental officers have the legal powers to ask all dog walkers to show they have at least one poo bag on them. They have the legal power to issue a fixed penalty notice if you do not comply or have one. In reality they do have some leeway and may give you a warning first.
However there are some councils that contract this service out and these contractors get a cut of each penalty notice issued so treatment will vary depending where you live.
In my area they are a very small team so tend to target areas where there are known dog fouling problems playing fields or near schools or if serial offenders are known or identified to them via complaints and they may not catch the non picking up but they can challenge them on not having bags.

My dog will often do 2 poos on a walk so we get into the habit of taking 3 bags with us.

@Comefromaway

Suppose your dog had already done it's business and you had disposed of the bags?

I guess it is good practice to always carry more bags than you think you'll need as you can never know if your dog will need an extra poo.

Where I live, many people just keep a spare one tied around their dog's lead to show they have one with them.

As long as he wasn't rude then it sounds like he was just doing his job

What would he have done if you'd used up all your bags?

Councils can fine you for not carrying poo bags - not just for dog fouling.

So even if your dog has pooed you would still need spare bags. After all it is pretty easy to carry them and no effort!

It would not offend me in the slightest if people asked to see them

yes - you can be fined for not carrying bags - and that is a good thing IMO

so i would have no problem with being asked

@DOINGOURBIT

It's not acceptable, no. Dog may have already done its business, you may have disposed of it responsibly and not have any more bags on you - which to my mind is fair enough. No one can presume which dog / owner is at fault and unless CCTV evidence captures footage he is out of order mentioning it.

Honestly surprised that some people can predict their dog's poos like that! I always carry at least a handful as mine will do anywhere from 1-3 on a walk, and he never tells me what he's planning in advance

Excellent work by the maintenance operative, bravo 👏