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Original poster

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

130 replies

ladytramper · 26/10/2021 13:53

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?

OP posts:
Dutchesss · 26/10/2021 16:57

What harm is there in showing the bags? Everyone is going to say they have them so it's the only way to know. You would have to be very naive to take a stranger's word.

ErrolTheDragon · 26/10/2021 17:07

What does white aggressively mean?

Probably that she mistyped 'quite' and autocorrect decided on 'white'?

2Two · 26/10/2021 17:11

Does he know you? Is there any particular reason why he should automatically trust your word? There are plenty of people who would lie about this in order to try to avoid putting themselves in a bad light.

IntermittentParps · 26/10/2021 17:23

@Dutchesss

What harm is there in showing the bags? Everyone is going to say they have them so it's the only way to know. You would have to be very naive to take a stranger's word.
It's like being a kid being asked to turn out your pockets.
PesosBandage · 26/10/2021 17:26

Yeah, and I hate being asked to show my driving licence, or ID too. And my passport at airports. Of course I'm telling the truth that I'm me, and I'M not one of the "bad people" they're trying to catch out. Nosey bastards everywhere...

IntermittentParps · 26/10/2021 17:38

@PesosBandage

Yeah, and I hate being asked to show my driving licence, or ID too. And my passport at airports. Of course I'm telling the truth that I'm me, and I'M not one of the "bad people" they're trying to catch out. Nosey bastards everywhere...
Grin Driving licences, official IDs and passports are EXACTLY equivalent to a poo bag.
CovidCorvid · 26/10/2021 17:47

@Comefromaway

Suppose your dog had already done it's business and you had disposed of the bags?
This. My dog is 7yo and every single day she’s had a walk she does 2 poos, regular as clockwork. Same point of same streets every day. I pick up every time. I actually take 3-4 bags with me every day just incase she has some sort of stomach upset one day. So far in 7 years she never has.

But it would be just my luck the one day she does 3 poos and I’ve used all my bags someone will stop me on the park 20 yards from my house and ask to see bags!

I did read about somewhere, possibly Birmingham, where they were going to fine people without bags!

PesosBandage · 26/10/2021 17:55

@IntermittentParps I know, right?!

But in seriousness, it wouldn't bother me at all being asked to show poo bags. I hate dog poo almost as much as i hate the dog owners. So nasty to ruin places for everyone. Just don't own a bloody dog if you can't be arsed to be responsible for it.

BasiliskStare · 26/10/2021 20:39

I am a dog owner and people who do not pick up after their dogs get my goat. We are assiduous in doing this - I would not mind at all if some one approached me to check I had poo bags - I tend to grab a handful as there can be more than one poo per dog. The trick is to actually use them ( and in autumn - going through leaves to find the dog's contribution can be onerous ) But I would not blame the man for asking if you had the means to pick up after your dog. No-one wants this and as a dog owner I know this which is why we clear up after our dogs every single time. ( and keep them on a lead when they are on the pavement - they can run when in the park but closely supervised - no problem - touch wood as yet )

BasiliskStare · 26/10/2021 20:41

& yes - leaving the poo bags outside someone's house or in the gutter is dreadful - take them home and dispose of them - your dog - your responsibility

Clymene · 26/10/2021 20:44

It's privately managed estate. Why would you object to demonstrating you can pick up your dog shit?

Today I had to pick up some shit that someone had left outside my house that was so big it looked like horse shit. I had to use two bags 🤮

I wish someone would walk around here asking people if they have bags with them

And there's never any excuse for going out without them. If you can remember your keys, you can remember the shit bags.

Mojoj · 26/10/2021 20:52

Wow, you are all so polite! I would have told him yes I pick up my dog's poo and no I most definitely won't be showing you what I have in my pocket! Cheeky wee bastard.

RedMarauder · 27/10/2021 07:45

@Mojoj

Wow, you are all so polite! I would have told him yes I pick up my dog's poo and no I most definitely won't be showing you what I have in my pocket! Cheeky wee bastard.
And he can tell her to get off the land.

Just because land is accessible by the public doesn't mean there is not an owner.

The land that is accessible around me is owned by the council, the crown or trusts.

The council is the agent of the owner for most of this land so council workers and private contactors hired by the council, have a right to bar you from entry if you are behaving unreasonably in their view.

CocksAndKnobbers · 27/10/2021 08:09

I hope some of you lot get caught and fined. Just take a handful of bags with you - it's not difficult. Never mind all this "he's already had his poo" - what are you gonna do if he has a surprise second one?

Frymetothemoon · 27/10/2021 08:12

@Comefromaway

Suppose your dog had already done it's business and you had disposed of the bags?
Where I live, that's why you're supposed to have at least 2
Lightswitch123 · 27/10/2021 08:13

@cuttlefishgame

They have clearly had issues with inconsiderate owners leaving their dogs' turds all over the place so yes, I think this was completely justified.
Agreed
LubaLuca · 27/10/2021 08:18

@PlanDeRaccordement

Yes. He’s not a random vigilante accosting you, he’s the maintenance for the estate you were dog walking on and has obviously been instructed to do this as part of his job.
Exactly this. It's no big deal, just show him your crap bags and everyone is happy. Of course this man can't enforce anything, but it's obviously part of his job to encourage dog owners to be prepared to pick up after their dogs which is undeniably a good thing, and only an aggravator/wrongdoer wouldn't do as he asked.
Okbutnotgreat · 27/10/2021 08:21

Don’t know if it’s allowed or not but tbh it’s hardly an invasion of privacy, just show and move on. Easiest thing is to tie an emergency bag to the lead surely.

cloudyautumnaldays · 27/10/2021 08:25

I wouldn't be bothered by that tbh as it's clearly a problem there.
I tend to think/hope people who don't clear up are either old/infirm and find it hard/can't see it, or it happens at night when they also don't see it.
I don't like to think there's people who just don't care:-(

IntermittentParps · 27/10/2021 08:56

@CocksAndKnobbers

I hope some of you lot get caught and fined. Just take a handful of bags with you - it's not difficult. Never mind all this "he's already had his poo" - what are you gonna do if he has a surprise second one?
No one's saying they don't take bags, just that it's not on to ask adults to turn out their pockets to show teacher/little Hitler.
CocksAndKnobbers · 27/10/2021 09:09

If its a byelaw and you can be fined if you don't have one, yes it's perfectly OK for someone to ask you that in the course of their employment. There's really no need to be a dickhead about it

And little Hitler? Really?

IntermittentParps · 27/10/2021 09:35

you can be fined if you don't have one
Sure, if you are seen not cleaning it up. Not getting a bag out of your pocket on demand is probably going to be pretty hard to indict.
And little Hitler; yes, really. It's a very common and innocuous phrase; no point trying to go Godwin's Law on me.

CocksAndKnobbers · 27/10/2021 10:44

It's a phrase that marks you out as a bit dim that's all. And yes, you can be fined for not having the means to clear up after your dog not sure what part of that is hard for you to grasp.

IntermittentParps · 27/10/2021 10:52

as a bit dim is it, aye Grin

And yes, you can be fined for not having the means to clear up after your dog not sure what part of that is hard for you to grasp.
So the conversation goes:
Man: do you have poo bags with you?
Dog owner (lying): yes.
Man: Show me.
Dog owner: no.
Man: I'll fine you.
Dog owner: what for?
Man: not picking up after your dog.
Dog owner: not picking up what?
Man (to dog): take a shit would you.

Man: (to owner again) Pick that up.
Dog owner (shamefaced): OK, it's a fair cop, I don't have bags on me.
(Sensation ensues)

CovidCorvid · 27/10/2021 13:22

manchester dog walkers can be fined for not having poo bags

If there's a bylaw then guess they can "indict" someone.