I read in our local rag this week that the owner of 2 Afghans was fined for not picking up after one of their dogs in the park...all very well you may think, that's fair and just, owners should clear up after their dogs.

The thing was this particular dog had an upset tummy and produced...not to try to put you off your dinner or anything, so apologies, but very very liquid poo and no amount of trying to collect it would work - after all, you can't pick up water.  The dog warden came along and fined them.  The owners said it was impossible to pick it up and wouldn't pay so got taken to court and the court fined them further plus costs - I think the bill totalled something like just over £300 - that's an expensive poo!

Do you think that was fair?

I know that when my Staff bitch had just had pups she had a terrible stomach and it was a nightmare taking her out for a walk because it was impossible to pick up.  In the end, we ended up taking out pieces of newspaper to slide under her bum just as she was performing and then kind of collecting that together and binning that but it took a couple of days to work that one out. 

Yes, I think that's fair.
Sounds like the afghan owner made no attempt to pick it up! ~ I'd have a good go, even it was diarrhoea.
There's just no excuse for not clearing up after your dog.
Only yesterday I saw a young girl with a dalmation, pooing on the pavement, she dragged him along & even smacked him! After rooting in her pockets for an imaginary poo bag, whilst the cars were going past, she carried on with her walk, leaving poo on the pavement for some unlucky person or child to tread in. :(  :(

If we've taken a dog out that has had what is politely called a "runny tummy", we carry a large bottle of water as well - you can at least them attempt to wash it away.   I know one doesn't always know when this is going to happen - but one should at least try to pick it up - or cover it.

Margot

I wouldnt dream of taking a dog out with a runny tummy.  It could be contagious and I for one wouldnt be happy if my dogs caught anything from it.  Best to leave dogs with upset tummies at home until they have recovered.

I live in an area (supposedly of outstanding natural beauty) with doggie walking tracks to the front and side of me. There is a grass verge which I have to mow myself as it is classed as a private road.  I get so fed up with people walking their dogs to this grass verge, letting them have a poo, then turning round to go home and not cleaning the mess up.  One man did this and the dogs poo was horrible, it must have had some sort of infection.  I complained to our local dog warden (who is pretty useless) to come out and replace the "clean it up" stickers, as it is also a walkway to the local school and many school children use it.  He spoke to me as though I was at wrong and his answer was, if a dog has got diarrhea, then it is not an offence and need not be cleaned up. In my opinion I would have thought it more appropiate it be cleaned up!!!!!.........you should at least try.

Interesting perspective of that dog warden's SashaKameo, never knew that...I guess our local dog warden doesn't feel that's right! :-)

Up here we have enforcers patrolling dog walking areas from 0600-1800 who will give you a warning if they see no attempt to clean up, followed by fines. I think its fair enough, although the older generation who used to consider others by getting dogs into rough ground are finding it very hard, as are some owners/dog walkers with dogs plural. It states public places in Scotland, Sashakameo so if youre up here and the ground is yours the warden maybe has no powers of enforcement? Must be awful for you. My mate once told a dog walker she would folow him home and use his doormat as a loo if she saw his dog fouling her ground and he never did it again :D

I wish we had some of those enforcers here Lorelei (I am in Staffordshire). The ground at the front is actually council owned but because it is on a bit of a slope they won't mow it. But the warden said regardless of it being owned by the council, if a dog has diarrhoea it's not an offence NOT to clean it up!!!!!!!!!!  One fella had 7 dogs, always walked them off a lead and along a public highway (even as puppies),at all times of the day and night, you tell me how they clean up after them. I was on holiday once, and saw an elderly lady with a small dog, it had a runny poo in the main street at Portmadoc, she was horrified. The person she was with went into a shop and bought a box of tissues and I gave her a couple of carrier bags. Between us we got it all up. The dog warden would only have to spend 5 minutes outside my place to see what happens, if dog owners don't want the poo in their own back garden, why should anyone else want it.

Hi Staffordshire dweller!

I think you must have the same dog warden as me - utterly useless!!

We try to get them to come out and do KC GC tests (as they get automatic right from the KC to do this!!) but we can't get them to come.  For years now we have been sending our handlers and dogs out of county to get tested.  If you can get them out most don't know how to conduct the tests.  I once downloaded job application forms for dog wardens off the net (from several county councils - no qualifications are needed so how come they are KC approved testers!!)

I've called the Dog Warden office every week, called in in person once, for the last 4 weeks as I need to speak with them.  Everytime i get told they'll call back but never do.  Why??  I'm told they are busy giving out poo bags in the park!  If people are going to pick up after their dogs they'll carry their own supplies.  If they don't take supplies they have no intention of picking up after their dog and giving them out in the park won't help.

I know countless people who are troubled with 'stray' dogs and fouling on footpaths outside their homes but the dog warden never responds to their calls.

Dog wardens, in my experience, are a waste of time and tax payers money
and guess what, I live in Staffordshire too.

Yes Suzieque sounds like the same one, you ring up and there's never anyone in at the council offices.  There was a big spread in the local paper saying they were going to be out in force to educate people on picking up the poo, never seen a soul. Why don't they keep giving them on the spot fines, they might take more notice. I also live near to a village church, and there is grass round two sides, all the roads are public highways. Dogs are walked off the lead allowed to poo anywhere. A Bride once got some on the bottom of her wedding dress and carried it into church, so the Vicar did a look out and asked dog owners not to let the dogs foul on the grass. He got a mouthful off one dog owner and said that he (the vicar) lets cars park on the grass verge so what was the difference???
One day I was at the supermarket car park loading up the shopping, and a dog warden from another area (but still Staffs) noticed I had a dog cage in my vehicle. What a good idea, it's a pity there aren't more responsible owners about like you, instead of letting the dogs run free, came the remark. Next day, same dog warden in the dog van driving along with a dog happily sitting on her knee with paws on the steering wheel???????????
and we are paying their wages.
Sue,  and by the way I like your name suzieque, tried to get it myself.

I'll go against the grain and say it was unfair IMO. I've had a occassional large dog caught short by the unexpected squits and short of a hose you only make it worse by trying to clean up.

I think it's unfair as well - if they attempted to clean it up.  I've been there and could only get a little bit up.  The first time I was miles away from home so had no access to water but the second time, I was just down the road so went back with a bucket of water. 

Helen

I use the easiscoop, and you can get up even the most liquid poo with that, cos it has flat blades....its small enough to keep it in your coat pocket too.

Yep I think that an attempt should have been made.  I'm sorry but I have scrapped and scrubbed the pavement before now with a tissue or anything I can get my hands on if my dog has had a watery one!  it's still very unpleasant to other pedestrians just because it's watery makes no difference.  I have even plucked grass out of the park trying to clean the grass for god's sake! it's not nice just leaving it there no matter what consistency it is!!!

I've done this too Labmad, but there never seem to be enough tissues :(

If a dog is known to have 'runny tummy' then a good sprinkling of cheap cat litter (the grey kind) will soak most of it up making it easier to pick up, a quick squirt of water with washing soda will then clear the rest.  Its not so easy if you're 'caught short' tho but an attempt should be made and a few tissues will help in this case. But I do agree, a runny tummy could be contagious and should be kept at home.

I was caught unawares with my dog when these incidents happened.  If I had of known believe me I would have kept him in lol