Cleaning up after your dog

[flowerofedin]

Instead of grouching about dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs, and I know that they're getting away with it this way, but this can't be helped, why not do what I do....Take 3 or 4 poo bags every time you take him out, and pick up after the other dogs too. After all, if these lazy owners see the place is clean, they're more likely to start picking up too. This also applies to the non-dog owners. If it's in your way, how about picking it up and disposing of it properly... it can't get there by itself and the dogs can't clean up after themselves without eating the stuff (if they can they're very clever )

Just thought I would sound this off on here

Annabel

[Tinypixi]

Originally Posted by flowerofedin

Instead of grouching about dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs, and I know that they're getting away with it this way, but this can't be helped, why not do what I do....Take 3 or 4 poo bags every time you take him out, and pick up after the other dogs too. After all, if these lazy owners see the place is clean, they're more likely to start picking up too. This also applies to the non-dog owners. If it's in your way, how about picking it up and disposing of it properly... it can't get there by itself and the dogs can't clean up after themselves without eating the stuff (if they can they're very clever )

Just thought I would sound this off on here

Annabel

As a dog owner I would NEVER expect anyone else to have clean up after my dogs!! And if i was NOT a dog owner i wouldn't want to clean up other peoples oeoeoeoe!!!!

[OneTen]

As I see it, there are two different issues for mess occurring in our towns and parks and that which we find on paths in the countryside. In towns and parks I would expect councils to provide bins and dog owners to collect any mess in a bag and pop it in a bin. However in the countryside, one of the worst things a dog owner can do is collect the mess in a plastic bag because there is nowhere to put it. In the countryside the best option is to get a stick and flick the mess off the path into the undergrowth, it will be gone in no time.

Unfortunately, the mixed messages people are receiving have led to owners collecting mess in bags and then tossing the bag to one side or hanging it in a tree. As a countryside warden I then come along with my strimmer and I think you can visualise the rest.

A few PDF files:
Your Dog and the Countryside 362k
Managing Dogs in the Wood 722k
Stick and Flick 771k

Richard

[mh68]

Originally Posted by flowerofedin

Instead of grouching about dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs, and I know that they're getting away with it this way, but this can't be helped, why not do what I do....Take 3 or 4 poo bags every time you take him out, and pick up after the other dogs too. After all, if these lazy owners see the place is clean, they're more likely to start picking up too. This also applies to the non-dog owners. If it's in your way, how about picking it up and disposing of it properly... it can't get there by itself and the dogs can't clean up after themselves without eating the stuff (if they can they're very clever )

Just thought I would sound this off on here

Annabel

Picking up other peoples dog muck is just going to encourage them even more not to bother,ie why do it yourself when someone else will come and do it.Unless, you know the owners address and go and dump it all on their lawn - they may get the message then

Mark H

[APC]

One of my favorite things ever is locking up one of my reserves in the dark. Upon walking back to my vehicle, it's like a minefield. I love it when I step in a fat dog egg then have to spend the next 15mins scraping it out of my boot with a stick. But I rarely clean all of it off as it is dark or there is some residue left. Then I like sitting in my car, treading it into my pedals and upholstry and sticking the heater on so it really makes my 45min drive home a fragrant one.

[The Black Rabbit]

I am not surprised that all the dog owners who have commented on this thread have stated that "they are responsible owners who pick up their dog mess"... not because they are lying, but because these dog owners on this site (WAB) are clearly people who tend to think about the life around them in general.

I am depressingly afraid though, that whilst a number of dog owners on WAB have suggested that "responsible owners are in the majority", I have seen no evidence that such a claim holds water outside this forum.

I would suggest the complete opposite is true.
In my experience, irresponsible dog owners FAR outnumber responsible ones, and certainly around my neck of the woods, thats a fact, these days.

BWD's post on this also made a lot of sense. (edited)

"Although this thread is about dog owners not clearing up after their pets, the problem is, as so often now, down to two reasons laziness and selfishness. If we can over come both these factors in our society many of today's problems will vanish. Peoples attitudes need to change not only to save the planet, but to appreciate there is more to life than being an individual and to think of the consequences of not tidying up after your dog, dropping litter, driving at 40mph in a 30 zone setting fire to the dog poo bin, pushing shopping trolleys into a river and the list goes on and on and on.
Only when people start to think of others and of course our world as a whole, will things change....
...I will continue to pick up rubbish, it's not my job, and I like every one else pays council tax etc, but I've got to the point, if I don't do it who will."
Yep. Sad but true.

I've got to admit, I'm no dog-owner - I'm not particularly fond of dogs. I do like working dogs like some labradors, but the rest... mmmmm.... I'm not that fussed ta.
I was on a walk by some lakes the other day, and YET again my peace was absolutely shattered by some daft pratt and their yappy little rat who ran up to me and yipped and yapped at me.
No apology from the owner - just a "COME ON TIMMY! COME ON TIMMY!! TIMMY?! TIMMY!! COME ON TIMMY!!!" etc... until my brain decided to bleed through my nostrils.
Little Timmy decided to do a number 2 then.
I produced a bag (yes - its got to that stage when I take them wherever go, if I remember), scooped it up, stepped over the little rat who was dancing round my feet and handed it to the owner.
The owner said:
"Oh thankyou. I haven't got any bags!"

But that was a one off eh?
No.
I'm bored of all that. I'm bored pretending that the responsible owners are the majority. It simply isn't true and is not helping the situation.

Footnote:
Mark, if I may quote you also:

"Picking up other peoples dog muck is just going to encourage them even more not to bother,ie why do it yourself when someone else will come and do it.Unless, you know the owners address and go and dump it all on their lawn - they may get the message then!"

Maybe you've got a point. Maybe you're right. (Me and my sister used to do VERY bad things with irresponsible owners dog mess, when we were growing up - which probably gave them something to think about)!
But I'm of the opinion these days that maybe I can at least make the areas I enjoy walking / running in, just that little bit more pleasant if I pick up the odd "dog-egg" (nice term APC!) and give it over to the owner, telling them that they've dropped this...

Doug

[demicav]

[quote=mh68;198862 Unless, you know the owners address and go and dump it all on their lawn - they may get the message then

Mark H[/QUOTE]

I've done that myself once with a neighbour . I clean up after mine, not gonna be responsible for their dogs as well. If people can't hack having dogs they shouldn't have them. I got great satisfaction the day I flicked it on this certain persons garden and path right outside their door.

[mh68]

I think while picking up a dogs mess and giving it to the owner while theyre still there, may make them a bit more responsible in the future, theres also a good chance that, if theyre lazy/inconsiderate enough not to pick it up themselves in the first place, they`ll likely fling the bag in a bush once out of sight anyway. Thats the way these peoples minds work sadly.
At least dog muck is biodegradeable, once its in a bag this isnt so,if the bag is then dumped.Cant win really....

Mark H

[flowerofedin]

I was actually thanked by an environmental health officer once who saw what I was doing. Yes I agree that irresponsible dog owners are in the majority, and yes it's a complete pain to have to pick up after other people's dogs, but like it or not it's our world too, and we have a right to a clean world. Let's set the irresponsible dog owners an example they will never forget.

[stripee]

Originally Posted by mh68

At least dog muck is biodegradeable, once its in a bag this isnt so,if the bag is then dumped.Cant win really....

Mark H

I thought those bags were biodegradeable? Otherwise, I agree, better to have the stuff in the open air. And hopefully an irresponsible dog owner will skid on it. I think a few on the spot fines would help. Bring back park keepers. There used to be lots of these once. If people didn't think they could get away with then they might??? think twice.

[mh68]

Trouble is Stripee, in areas where theres a risk of being fined they behave and pick the mess up.As soon as theyre out in the countryside away from prying eyes they dont bother.I would go as far as to say its one case where the majority are spoiling it for the minority

Mark H

[stripee]

I have noticed this, much more dog mess on the lane I live on, which is a ROW. Noone to see. Whereas in London which used to be a minefield of dog turds, there has been a big improvement.

[Gelert]

The warden of our local National Trust property has suggested that I kick dog turds into the undergrowth rather than contrbute to landfil with more plastic. I have found a source of 100% biodegradable bags tho - www.snoozzzeeedog.com if anyone else is interested.

[malantone]

When I was working I used to take a party of convicts to clean the local beachs, One beach at Parton in Cumbria had wonderful new sea defences,
people would pick up their dogs mess from below the high water mark carry it up the beach and throw it amongst the rocks of the sea wall, surely better to leave it on the sand for the tide to deal with.
Tony A.

[flowerofedin]

Just remember, I DON'T LIKE cleaning up other peoples mess, and I don't go out of my way to do it, but if it's in my way then it'll get removed. Everyone of us should stop moaning and remove them if they are in their way. Simple as that and doesn't take a second.....

[ColonelBlimp]

Cor I see so much around here that people have hung up on the trees. I mean, if they are too lazy to deal with their own dog muck why do they have to advertise it to the world?

[hannahpanda]

We use biodegradable bags and always clean up after our dog, its part of being a responsible dog owner to clean up after them!

[buteo_buteo]

I don't think dog s**t should be left in woodland either. If you're walking there with your dog, then chances are other people will be too and, as a dog owner, I don't like stepping in poo any more than the next person!!

As for what to do with it then my suggestion is bag it, take it home, put it down the loo or into a green dog loo, wash the bag out (preferably outside with a hose and not in the kitchen sink!) and then re-use bag. That's what I do and yes it is a pain in the backside, and throwing it away or leaving it lying for some other poor sod to step in (or even better to pick up!) is much more convenient but it depends how seriously you take dog ownership and our environment

[bounce]

Whilst I agree and am lucky that my dog chooses our back yard to cr@p I can't help but wonder why nobody ever whinges about next doors cat sh!ting in your garden and slightly covering it over like a landmine or those lovely football teams mainly kids with watching parants who leave countless empty plastic bottles and gaffa tape on parks after a match or the teenage yobs that smash the empty bottles of stella on the parks ready for the kids and dogs to cut themselves just after setting alight to someones wheelie bin or the dog waste bin.
As I recall 20 years or so ago people just used to let there dogs out in a morning and back in at night (free to roam streets) they shat allover the streets, theres nowhere near as much on streets now.
ps I hate seeing the bagged up sh!te hanging from trees.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by flowerofedin

Just remember, I DON'T LIKE cleaning up other peoples mess, and I don't go out of my way to do it, but if it's in my way then it'll get removed. Everyone of us should stop moaning and remove them if they are in their way. Simple as that and doesn't take a second.....

Some of the woods I've been in, it would take you all your time picking up the mess, you never get to see the countryside!

henrya

[flowerofedin]

As I said, Thunder, I don't go out of my way to do it, but if it's there then it goes along with my own dog's mess. Keeping the paths clean is a dog owner's duty particularly for the kids round here. I'm told it causes eye disease in children and worms or something if left, and which is why we have these bylaws in the first place. Maybe someone can enlighten me with the truth about that.

And let's go for the modern equivilent of the dog licence which is dog registration. No one can get away from that one

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by flowerofedin

I'm told it causes eye disease in children and worms or something if left, and which is why we have these bylaws in the first place. Maybe someone can enlighten me with the truth about that.

Toxocariasis (canis) is the disease you're thinking of.
Its caused by roundworm eggs found in dog faeces that may potentially result in eye problems or blindness, and children are particularly at risk.

This infection is usually picked up by the person coming into contact with soil or sand contamination with faeces carrying eggs of the parasite. The problem is made worse because as the parasite can last up to two years, contaminated soil and sand is often the carrier after the faeces degrades.
The parasite can only infect humans if swallowed, but once swallowed the infection can last between 6 and 24 months.

Almost all puppies are infected with Toxocara and produce larger numbers of eggs than adult dogs.
However, the prevalence of Toxocara diminishes as the dog grows older

Toxocara eggs are not infectious until they hatch which is usually at least 2 – 3 weeks after they have been deposited by a dog. Therefore freshly deposited faeces are not infectious, and you can safely clear up after your dog.
A single dog mess contains approximately 1 million microscopic eggs.

It is estimated approximately 100 cases of this disease are positively diagnosed each year, with 50 of those 100 having serious eye damage.

Eye disorders are the most commonly reported complaint associated with toxocariasis. The infection can potentially cause blindness through the growth of non-malignant tumours or the development of detached retinas. Toxocariasis can also cause flu-like symptoms which are not so obviously linked to the problem.
Hence it is very likely that a huge number of toxocariasis cases go unreported and unrecognised by either the public or by doctors. Other symptoms are vague aches, dizziness and nausea, asthma and epileptic
fits.

Nearly all the positively diagnosed cases in the UK are in children, who had contracted the disease as toddlers.
Granted, the incidence of this disease (at least diagnosed) is very rare indeed, but the tragic thing about it of course, is that it is completely preventable.

Hope that answers your question.
Doug

[demicav]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

Toxocariasis (canis) is the disease you're thinking of.
Its caused by roundworm eggs found in dog faeces that may potentially result in eye problems or blindness, and children are particularly at risk.

This infection is usually picked up by the person coming into contact with soil or sand contamination with faeces carrying eggs of the parasite. The problem is made worse because as the parasite can last up to two years, contaminated soil and sand is often the carrier after the faeces degrades.
The parasite can only infect humans if swallowed, but once swallowed the infection can last between 6 and 24 months.

Almost all puppies are infected with Toxocara and produce larger numbers of eggs than adult dogs.
However, the prevalence of Toxocara diminishes as the dog grows older

Toxocara eggs are not infectious until they hatch which is usually at least 2 – 3 weeks after they have been deposited by a dog. Therefore freshly deposited faeces are not infectious, and you can safely clear up after your dog.
A single dog mess contains approximately 1 million microscopic eggs.

It is estimated approximately 100 cases of this disease are positively diagnosed each year, with 50 of those 100 having serious eye damage.

Eye disorders are the most commonly reported complaint associated with toxocariasis. The infection can potentially cause blindness through the growth of non-malignant tumours or the development of detached retinas. Toxocariasis can also cause flu-like symptoms which are not so obviously linked to the problem.
Hence it is very likely that a huge number of toxocariasis cases go unreported and unrecognised by either the public or by doctors. Other symptoms are vague aches, dizziness and nausea, asthma and epileptic
fits.

Nearly all the positively diagnosed cases in the UK are in children, who had contracted the disease as toddlers.
Granted, the incidence of this disease (at least diagnosed) is very rare indeed, but the tragic thing about it of course, is that it is completely preventable.

Hope that answers your question.
Doug

Good post. This is why regular worming of a dog is essential as well as removing its mess. Mine are wormed as recommended, I have 3 children that are constantly in contact with them. However a neighbour recently aquired a puppy that had a serious worm infection, turns out the previous owners hadn't bothered to worm at all. My dogs and children had been in contact with the puppy which got me panicking quite a bit. I took my dogs straight to the vets for advise and purchased a very good all round wormer. Better safe than sorry.

[Tazni]

I very much dislike these people that do that =[ I'd rather they leave the poo than bag it and leave it it's damaging the the environment =[ And a definate eyesore