Why can't dog owners drag their crap machines onto the gutter to defecate. I can't understand why the mess is always in the middle of the foot path.

I live in a town house complex where we pay monthly fees to maintain the pathways we jointly own , gardens , lawns etc We are surrounded by high rises and are having to pay maintenance people to clean up dog dirt left everywhere. Also the bin beside our mailboxes , which is intended for junk mail, is being used for dog dirt bags- which means that the paper contents cannot be recycled. Yet others simply drop the bag in the vicinity of this bin-or simply do not pick up at all.There are even people who drive up to the gates ,park and block the exit/entrance ,open their car doors and allow their dogs to go out on their own to use the "facilities' then return to the car when done.

I walk with my grandchildren to take them to school and back - we have to dodge the dog poo on both the pavement and the right of way we use. I have had to scrape my grandchildren's shoes several times to clean the dog poo off when they have accidently trodden in it and it makes me feel sick, the smell is usually dreadful.

I really don't understand what the issue is with cleaning up after your own dog. Why have one if you are not prepared to deal with the poo!

I too wonder about the people who bag the poo and then throw the bag into trees and bushes - who do they think is going to clear it up?

Please don't think that I dislike dogs over the years I have had several dogs including a Beagle and two Border Cross Terriers at the same time. We always scooped the poop and disposed of it properly.

DH uses a temporary spray paint - used for marking out building sites and temporary roadworks so it only lasts about a week. We both care about the wildlife too.

chocolatepudding - I do hope he's using ecologically sound paint spray. One wouldn't want to risk poisoning birds and wild animals with something toxic.

Dog wardens ??. So this means that those of us without dogs have to contribute towards clearing up after filthy dog owners, gee thanks.

Reading the comments, it seems that efficient dog wardens are the answer. Dogs should be supervised in public parks ,and the owners should be supervised as well. And fined when caught.

ojeezus - If you live near me my DH has used three tins of spray paint (blue, orange and yellow) to mark all offending turds on the river path and the bridleway on our land. He has also stuck small notices on hazel sticks by each pile telling lazy dog owners to clear up after their dog. There are enormous piles of C* so it must be larger dogs making the mess.

I agree that the shaming idea isn't likely to work. It might even have the opposite effect!

It surely gets stranger - if the council can afford to pay someone to patrol the footpaths armed with a aerosol, could they not ask the fella to pick up the poo, instead of painting it? I'm not sure shaming people works. Unless they're named in the pub.

Quite a few councils in England and Wales have done this over the past few years - it's supposed to draw residents' attention to the problem and hopefully shame dog owners who allow their pets to foul local streets without picking up after them.

(Strange choice of username, BTW! )

I live in a small village and the dog poo issue often causes apoplectic rumbles amongst the residents. The pros and cons have been well considered here but there is one bizarre activity that we have experienced: someone has been out and spray painted said turds in bright blue. I'm not sure whether this has been done by a dog-owner - to assist walkers and stop them treading in it or by an anti-poo campaigner to make a point. Has anyone else come across this phenomenon?

There was a time twenty or more years ago when our street was persistently fouled by a couple of dogs, neither of which was ever seen without a lead on. One day I was looking out of the front window when one man allowed his dog to poo a lead's length up my drive, in the very centre, while he stood and watched it. When he saw me looking he hauled on the lead so that the poor thing had to stagger across the pavement, pooing as it went - more mess.

I started taking out a watering-can of strong disinfectant every day and pouring it over the pavement, in the hope that the smell might put the dogs off, and the wet patch give a broad hint to the owners. One woman led her doggie out into the road to that his delicate paws would not be comtaminated by it, so perhaps it had some effect (She saw me watering and remarked "You should get a good crop" to which I answered "I should do, it has had plenty of fertilizer" )

It stopped when the man owning the first dog died - they like to poo where others have marked the spot, and when the worst offender had gone, the others did not persist.

I've moved temporary to a smallish village. Plenty of dog walks around and most people have multiple dogs. I have never seen a stray or any dog on it's on and yet the pavements are covered in dog pooh. It's the worst I have ever seen. My friend came to visit and parked her car on the road outside my house when she was going home she had to step over dog mess to open her car door. I myself have a German Shepherd and he poohs in the garden before we go out but I always take bags to clean up after him. Something has to be done it's disgusting.

I lived in London for many years, and grew more and disgusted by the state of pavements, grass verges, parks, etc. Personally, I think there are far too many dogs in the UK generally and in London particularly. I would urge any future government to reinstate dog licences, at a realistic figure for today, say £20 renewable annually (with obvious allowances for guide dogs, OAPs' dogs, etc). All dogs to be fitted with a microchip at birth, which would record whether the licence fee for the year had been paid or not. All non-licenced and stray dogs to be culled. The British have had for many years a reputation throughout Europe for liking their dogs more than their children - and I'm afraid it's justified.

I live in London, and dog fouling is a huge problem. Apart from the obvious disgusting mess - the residue from bagged poo, may not be easy to spot, particularly at night.
I am saddened by the fact that when I take my grandchildren out, instead of encouraging their curiosity and delight in nature and architecture, and running around the park without a care,our eyes have to be on the pavement (or grass) all the time. The thing is, once a dog poo has already been stepped on once, it is harder to identify it before it's too late! Our enjoyment is so often ruined by the selfish behaviour of dog-owners.

Hymnbook a land mine should do the trick.

I have posted this suggestion before, but maybe Hymnbook has not seen it.

Pick up the offending poo and place is in a large paper bag. Place said bag upon neighbour's doorstep - light the paper bag at the same time as ringing their doorbell. Neighbour will emerge from front door, see the burning bag and proceed to try and stamp out the flames - you then have to hope he gets the hint!

Hymnbook - the only deterrent I can think of is a large fence. I'm taking it as a given that you have asked your neighbour not to allow his dog to do this?
There is also the alternative option - become a very unpleasant snooper and photograph this man and his dog, over the course of several days. Present the "evidence" to your local dog warden and community police person. This course of action won't endear you to your neighbour and you'd need to consider the possible longer term consequences. Good luck

Yes I agree more notices put up on walks etc I think would help with the problem and would not cost to much.

Have pmd you with a suggestion, Hymnbook

Do hope no one else is reading this whilst eating their supper (me)....... One way of reducing how much you eat I guess!
It's an offence not to clear up after your dog in public places, shouldn't it apply to other people's lawns too Hymnbook?

My neighbour has a dog He leaves it alone all night whilst at work Every morning when he arrives home from work it is let out off the lead & it goes straight onto my grass no fence He used to pick the pooh up but no longer does this I am sick of having to clear up after his dog. I dread the warmer weather. I like to sit in my garden & I have grandddaughters who come to play there. Can any one suggest a deterrent I can buy to put on the grass ?

I take a bag everywhere I go, when I have the dog with me. I clean up after her wherever we are. I used to have a cat when I was a child. My Dad hated planting in the garden, as he was never sure where the cat had been! My dog's poo is usually quite solid and picks up easily, the cat poo remained quite liquid, eugh!

grannyactivist, I've had several cats over the years and all were trained to use a litter tray - in the house.

I don't think a cat could be trained to only use a litter tray, especially when it's out and about sometimes far from home!