Saw this on BBC news - dogs being swabbed for DNA which can be matched to dog poo! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-35485653 I see the kennel club say that the scheme isn't worth it because it can't be enforced - people don't have to allow their dogs to be tested. But I'd still be happy with such a scheme, because I'd be happy to demonstrate that dog waste left lying around wasn't caused by my dog. So, I think there is still benefit in people being able to distance themselves from irresponsible and anti-social owners. A big plus, I think.
They could test all of the poo left in a park and then set up by a stand at the entrance to test you on the way in. If your dog's DNA matches poo left in the park then you pay a fine/can't enter/some other punishment. I like the idea but it would never happen as a council would never be able to justify the spending..
I'd be more than happy to do this, as JulieT says, It would show it wasn't ME who left my dogs' doings lying around. We all get tarred with the same brush as the anti-social few - it get's my back up.
Why not just use CCTV in the problem areas and identify the owners and prosecute using the footage. Isn't this also something the local dog warden should be working to prevent Unfortunately it would only be the responsible owners, who pick up, that would have the DNA test. I'm not sure that even mandatory testing would work as I think we all know that many dogs will not be microchipped come April . In my small village we have signs on numerous lamp posts about dog fouling, several poo bins along the main road and near the public footpath by the church and yes we still have dog poo on the grass verges
I've always cleared up after my dogs but I had not realised the extent of the problem until Ripple arrived with his poo eating habits . Now I have become the worlds best poo spotter and it's everywhere .
In our nearest meadow (more an over grown field), it's awful. Most dog owners that use it do not pick up, I've even been told to leave it as its in long grass and will decompose!!!!, so it may but not before someone has trodden in it . I don't walk at the same time as them anymore, they make me too angry. Then others bag it and leave the bags hanging on a tree and baby wipes littering the place. Narrow minded idiots.
We are lucky round here - the park is clear and so are the reservoirs and paths in the woods. I rarely see un-picked up poo. But, if I do, I pick it up so that people won't think it was us!! .
I think DNA testing is a great idea - I'm sure they could introduce some way of getting a database sorted out. The should fine a lot of money as a deterrent and to pay for the testing etc. .
It's just another idea that cannot be put into action just like idiots using mobile phones whilst driving etc. etc. My neighbour told me that when a took her dog out for a walk he did a poo on the PAVEMENT she of course didn't have a poo bag as she has never bought one in her life, there was someone behind her so she told the lady that she would come back later to clear up. NO SHE DIDN'T. I told her how disgusting that was and that I have spent the last year dealing with the Council and the Parish Council trying to get a "Responsible Dog Owner" scheme off the ground. What possible hope do I have if this is the attitude? I left her in no uncertain terms how I felt but I know she won't change because she just doesn't care The irony is she has a horse paddock and on the gate is a sign that says:- "PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOGS ON LEAD AND PICK UP YOUR DOG POO" Really, what are you on another planet women
Uncleared poo is a not a big issue on our estate, but the track that goes from the estate to the fields and woods is lined with poo. Every one uses that track as it's the easiest way to the woods, but so many dog owners seem to treat it as a toilet. A DNA scheme could identify the dogs and their owners, but how would it be enforced? I can't see many councils pursuing dog owners in this age of austerity.
I think everyone knows that it's anti-social not to clear up after your dog, and social pressure to conform is quite powerful. If people think they are observed by others, they are more likely to pick up (and then chuck the poo, wrapped in plastic in a bush when they are out of sight ). It's possible that a DNA scheme wouldn't really have to be enforced all that much - only once in a while - the fact that people might be caught out could be a powerful deterrent.
This proposal is just another way of attacking dog owners. There are irresponsible dog owners and councils have enough powers now, why give them any more to abuse ?. Where I walk my dog on 6 occasions he has found human excrement, there are no signs telling walkers, cyclists to carry their poo bags. Why stop at dog DNA if they have every ones DNA profile they could prosecute all the people who discard cigarette butts, fast food wrappers, drink bottles, chewing gum etc and all the people who vomit in the streets on Friday and Saturday nights.
Maybe they should I know it doesn't affect me for the most part, because I don't live in the UK and only visit a couple of times a year, but I don't feel attacked by it, because I'm probably more upset by the abandoned poop than people who don't own dogs; I feel it tars me with the same brush as those irresponsible owners. I think everyone should be required to carry enough poo bags to pick up after every eventuality - I always have two rolls with me, so that the second one replaces the first as soon as it's finished. I don't consider that a hardship, or even give it a moment's thought. And I think anyone who leaves dog poo, or any other type of litter, should have the book thrown at them. A big, heavy, hard-backed book.
Totally agree with @snowbunny, It gets me so mad to think that I could be tared with the same brush as these people. I too carry a roll of poo bags and have spares tied to my lead so that everyone can see that I do clear up after my dogs so do my children when they take Hattie out. It's ridiculous as poo bags are so inexpensive in the first place, it's just pure ignorance and utter lazyness.
I agree that it would be nice to show that dog poo left lying around has never come from my own dog. I always used to worry about that where I used to live - the street outside my house was always littered with poo on the pavement, and it was a main walking route to the local primary school too! I used to worry when people would see me out with Penny and then see poo on the pavement that they would assume it was hers. I fail to see any excuse that is valid for not picking up your dogs poo, with the exception of assistance dogs for disabled or blind people. I'm a member of a pregnancy and baby forum now (2 weeks to go!) and there was a post on there from a woman saying she had taken her dog for a walk and it had done a poo on a grass verge. She was complaining because a man watched her not pick it up and said something to her about it. Her excuse was that she was pregnant so didn't want to bend down and pick it up and if the man was so bothered he should pick it up himself. I beleive she also asked him if he had a poo bag, indicating that she didn't even carry them herself! Needless to say she got a lot of stick for it! I'm 38 weeks pregnant, suffer from SPD (basically my pelvis is splitting apart) so I'm in constant pain, I'm prone to passing out from increased heart rate, and regularly have dizzy/faint spells and I still not only wall my dog every day but also pick up her poo!
Hi Donna ......dog poo (or probably any other, for that matter) does NOT decompose fast enough......I live in a "snow" area....last year we had 110 inches of snow total for the Winter.....it snowed about every other day.....Cooper (my dog) has a fenced area where he does his business.....his poo got covered by snow every two days, and froze.....so no way could you go out and pick it up. By the time Spring came his area was covered with poo!! Luckily I have woods in the back of my property but had to make several trips with my shovel and bucket to clean up his area. Now, maybe it was because his poo froze!!! But I can assure you it was totally intact.
In the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) it's illegal to walk a dog without carrying bags and you can be fined on the spot if you're bagless. I think it's $200. Not that I've ever heard of a fine being issued. That thing where people hang poo bags in a tree is the most disgusting and bizarre thing ever.... Why? Just why? Horrible.
I think they were talking about introducing fines here if you're caught out with a dog with no poo bags. Not sure if it was a local thing or nationwide but I hope they do bring that in. Would be difficult to police it though as it would be up to the local dog wardens and from my experience working with them they have enough on their plates as it is! And yeah the hanging up bags of poo is ridiculous. It's the same as people who bag up their dog poo and just leave it in the middle of the field (and no they're not coming back for it as I've seen it in empty fields) ....what is the point?? If you're going to leave it then don't even bother picking it! At least it will rot down unlike if it's in a plastic bag!!
