The Knaphillian

With so many responsible dog owners, I'm surprised why there is so much of it on The Vyne playing field.  I pity the poor bloke who has to stroll around the field the day before the football matches with a trowel and plastic bag to pick it all up.

I'm a dog owner. More than that, I'm a resposible dog owner. It is infuriating when a minority lets the side down by failing to deal with what their dog leaves behind.

What I find quite astonishing (and it was something that featured in the WN&M two or three years back) is the amount of owners who show early signs of being responsible by bagging-up the pooh but then, instead of disposing of it they choose to hang the bag from the branch of a tree ! Sacred Blue. There is an epidemic of such behaviour both on Horsell Common and the woodland and fields surrounding The Priory Hospital, Knaphill. I've noticed it alongside the River Avon too where I most frequently walk the dog these days (I live in Wiltshire). This suggests that the problem is a nationwide problem. Holy Gramoley. What is wrong with these idiots who only get it half right ?

I would happily campaign for the death penalty to be re-introduced for anybody caught hanging a bag of doggy-do from a tree . . . or is that a little too extreme ?

Perhaps they could be put in the stocks and pelted with their own bags of 'mess' that they should of disposed of in the correct manner. That would learn 'em !

Rant over. Please discuss.

My dog goes to the loo in our back yard so that when we take him out, we don't suffer the humiliation of him defecating in public or having to pick up poo from the ground in front of everyone!  Not to mention leaving germs around for little ones to pick up on themselves and their toys as, even if you do a good job of removing the visible, it's the invisible that counts.  People can go on about how clean their dogs are, but the absolute scientific fact is that they do carry and transfer germs, etc.  There are many dog owners that will pooh-pooh that, but I wonder how many of them take precautions for their own wellbeing when using public toilets and other facilities - just because you can't see something, doesn't mean the harmful and potentially harmful microbes aren't there.  It just isn't nice to know you've come into contact with them, so why should other people, children and other people's pets come into contact with them?  It should be made illegal for anyone to allow their dog to use public land for toileting.  The vast majority of dog owners have gardens - why don't they let their dogs do what they need and clean up after them there?  Or isn't it good enough for them and their families...........

Those without gardens are likely to have a porch or some such where it can be done, but as usual with certain types in our society, it's a case of "not in my backyard".

Howzabout naming and shaming ALL dog owners that don't have a garden or a porch !

Hey ! - it would have been much nicer if MahargH  had posted this thread under the title of "Doggy Poo" - is sh*t stll a swear word? 

Lola Bloom at 11:29AM on Feb 16, 2010

Hey ! - it would have been much nicer if MahargH  had posted this thread under the title of "Doggy Poo" - is sh*t stll a swear word? 

If a joint survey is to be believed, only 16% of people asked, thought shit was a profanity - whilst crap came in at 10%.  Shit didn't even make the top 10.  If you want to know which did, go to Wikipedia, search for "profanity".

Village Imbecile at 09:36AM on Feb 16, 2010

Howzabout naming and shaming ALL dog owners that don't have a garden or a porch !

Howzabout making sure you have the facilities for taking care of a pet that doesn't infringe on others' use, enjoyment and safety of public space before acquiring one?  You wouldn't buy a horse if you didn't have a field or stable to keep it in, for example.  If you can't deal with your own dog's toileting on what you have of your own property, don't get one.   Few people have to have a dog.  There are other  pets to choose from.  And don't start on cats venturing into neighbouring gardens .... it will open a giant can of giant worms!

Oddly enough my partner keeps a pony . . . on land that does not belong to us.

The proposal suggesting not to own a dog unless you can contain it and it's habits within the bounds of one's own property is thoroughly un-workable. Such an idea has never been the case - nor will it ever be. In fact, it's not really worth dwelling on and wasting page space any further.

Now, what am I to do about my neighbour's cat that insists on using my porch as it's own personal lavatory ?

Re-read.  The problem is when the owner sees fit to allow the dog to defecate elsewhere.  Many dog owner does not take the dog out for purposes of toileting, but for fun and exercise. 

A little while ago, along Raglan Road, someone regularly circled all the dog mess with yellow spray paint ... then at the end of the road wrote 'Dog Sh*t Alley' in big letters on the pavement ... right next to two schools. Slightly ironic I thought! Interestingly the dog mess has since disappeared, but the yellow circles remain. Nice!!