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
, surely better to leave it on the sand for the tide to deal with.
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