Private Detective Swings Into Action

A private detective sets up a larger woodland camera on a route regularly used by dog walkers.

"Black Cat Investigations" appears to have set up with the local authority at Milton Keynes in an attempt to catch those, who do not clean up after their dogs. According to the report: "They have hidden tiny video cameras the size of thumbnails in trees and drink cans at popular dog-walking sites across Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, in a bid to catch the offenders".The new Community Dog Fouling Initiative has been set up by father-of-two Mark Halstead, 35, who runs Black Cat Investigations.

Now I am sure that Mr Halstead is doing this because he has a sense of civic duty and, as he observes, is fed up with cleaning excrement off his children's shoes. It has nothing to do with promoting his agency (as is made clear by the article!).

I totally support this initiative and am particularly impressed with Mr Halstead's suggestion that members of the public could assist as volunteers in the campaign. An excellent idea, why pay people when you can get them to work for nothing?

Read more about this undercover initiative at the Mail Online here.

Festive Dog Fouling!

Somebody, somewhere had to mix Christmas with dog fouling. Thank you West Lancashire Borough Council, you did not let us down!

Their message is simple:

Please don’t leave an unwanted Christmas gift from your dog!

They also delight us with the following information:

There are more than seven million dogs in the UK, producing more than 1,000 tonnes of waste every day.

We thank you for this powerful message, Christmas is now complete!

Last minute gift ideas ...

Ladies, look away now as this next post is for all us men in the world that have left their Xmas shopping to the last minute (as usual).

Right lads - forget wandering around the petrol station shop on Xmas Eve. Take it from me, your loved one does not want a copy of Razzle, a quart of engine oil and a new wiper blade for Xmas. What she really wants is her very own copy of Monthly Doos - The 2011 Dog Poop Calendar.

Every month features information about the "hound that made the mound", dog poop trivia and depicts the crap laid out throughout the year that would really add some class to any office or kitchen wall.

Show her that you give a crap by giving her a full 12 months of it!

£12.95 is a small price to pay to wake up on Xmas morning smug in the knowledge that you made no effort at all this year :-)

The Dog Poop Song

There has been a lot of campaigning re the need to bag, remove and dispose of dog faeces appropriately.

I suppose it really was only a matter of time before the other side struck back. At last we have a song from a woman, who is clearly stating that she does not intend to pick up her dog's "poop" and explains that she will be long gone before there is a chance of capture.

I like this girl. She is merely saying what many people think. I will leave you to decide if the profanity at the end of the song adds any value.

Dog Fouling And Police Brutality

Bruised: Polish immigrant Ann Stanczyk, 49, claims she was horrifically beaten by two NYPD officers over a disagreement about dog poop.

I begin by stressing that I do not believe a story simply because someone says that they were assaulted by the police. In fact, I'm sure the NYPD has plenty to deal with.

That said, it is astounding that an allegation of assault has emanated from an allegation of dog fouling.

It is alleged that the police accused her dog of fouling, she claimed it had only urinated. She picked up the faeces and claimed that they were cold and not, therefore, a product of her dog. At this the officers, allegedly, beat her up.

I find this hard to swallow but the matter is under investigation. TV report below:

Mail online here.

Snow Is No Excuse!

Ask Scottish Borders Council!

Unbelievably, people have not been cleaning up after their dogs in the snow (see the picture from my garden below this post!).

I could not put it better than Councillor Len Wyse "Covering the waste with snow is unacceptable..".

Councillor Len Wyse

As Britain braces itself for more arctic weather, I hope that we will all "bag it and bin it". Only then will we check on our neighbours and grit the roads.

Article here.

Good News & Bad News

Here in the UK, we have been experiencing a good deal of snow and ice.

As you would expect, Stamp on It and I have been looking for examples of "dog fouling in the snow". If nothing else, that is something of a romantic phrase and could have been an alternative title for many films (e.g. The Wizard of Oz. Toto could have let the whole of Kansas have it from the flying house!).

Here is the good news; I've found a pile in the snow!

That said, for every "Ying" there is a "Yang". The pile happens to be in my front garden. This is, therefore, not funny!

While speaking to a friend on the phone, I saw my neighbour walking her two dogs up the road. One always enters the garden to greet me when I am there. On this occasion, I was merely watching through the window. Perhaps to let me know that she had been to see me, the dog left the steaming pile shown below.

I don't know whether to be grateful or not.

On the plus side, when I went to bag it up, it was frozen thereby rendering the task a simple one.

Thank you for reading this.

Dog Fouling 'Bag and Flag' Events

Tonbridge and Malling council is leading the way again. Above we see Environmental Enforcement Officer Beverley Horn with 123 bags of dog faeces collected from Ferry Field Recreation Ground in Aylesford. Only one ticket was issued.

Clearly, the people of Aylesford are happy to see this recreation ground awash with dog excrement.

Keep fighting, Beverley, we are with you!

As Dean Martin might have said: "Give me the yellow bag, give me the girl and leave the rest to me."

Article here.

Councillor Rod Blyth, Oldham Council, We Salute You!

Irresponsible Dog Owners Fall Foul Of The Law

Councillor Rod Blyth

Councillor Rod Blyth has taken the fight to the courts of Oldham.

Two people have been fined totals of £490. One allowed his dog to leave the house and foul a grass verge. In that very area in October, there were 71 violent crimes.

I am relieved to know that, should I become one of those 71 victims, as I hit the deck, I will not get any dog faeces on my clothes.

Thanks, Rod!

Article here.

Dog Excrement Park

Alright, that's not quite the title but I was aiming for an acceptable version.

I'm not sure how this helps the campaign other than to keep the profile raised.

Let's hear it for the snakemen!

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Comes On Board!

Dog Fouling Campaign Works It's Magic

We all remember Stamp it Out's post about the tragedy of little Aimee and the Dog Poo Fairy. Clearly Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council is working hand in hand with this site as they have taken the concept to a new level.

The latest local publication contains articles on topics such as preparation for a major emergency, taking action to reduce domestic violence and help available to support homeless people. Which of these subjects made the front page? The answer is none! The headline topic is dog fouling with a live appearance by the Dog Poo Fairy (see picture above).

I am relieved to hear that dog fouling has reduced by 75% in Woodland Walk, Tonbridge, and full marks to whomever has been out counting the deposits!

If nothing else, this demonstrates very clearly that we cannot trust the "Keep Britain Tidy" campaign. That campaign is clear that "there's no such thing as the Dog Poo Fairy" and yet the picture shown above has clearly found her in Walderslade.

As long as we are fed that type of untruth, is it any wonder that the streets are awash?

Magazine here.

Doctor Poo - Australia

Every week we find evidence that our campaign is gathering momentum and spreading its wings across the four corners of the globe.

Doctor Poo is flying the flag in Australia. Rather like the stance, which we have adopted, they applaud those, who allow their dogs to foul pavements and at the same time condemn the behaviour. Confused? I am!

Anyway, I felt the need to make us known to them. I sent them the following message:

"Although we are, literally, at opposite ends of the earth, we clearly share a common view of the world as well as a universal goal - to highlight the issue of dog fouling in our own, inimitable styles.

We are honoured to have found you on the net. We have devoted a blog to you and advertised your site. Please feel free to cement our newly found comradeship by including us in your "links" section in return. Fate has drawn us together!"

Visit our friends here.

Secrecy - What Next?

My friend cleaned out his son's bedroom and found the above two balls of red rubber bands hidden away. Why had his son created these items in secret? I don't know the answer but I'm sure that you all share my worry. Today, a ball of red rubber bands made in secret in a bedroom, tomorrow an improvised explosive device!

The post office delivery workers have a lot to answer for!

France Experiences Riots Yet Dog Fouling Takes Prority

While France experiences rioting regarding political matters, which are beyond our remit, dog fouling has, once again, transcended chaos and disruption.

The council chief in Paris had already declared why the French capital had lost out to London for the 2012 Olympics. As reported in The Mail, Paris was the dog poo capital of the world.

Now, the Telegraph reports that sat navs are to be used to combat dog fouling in Toulouse.

Police and council staff will use hand-held computers to position and photograph the offending pile – then email the location to street cleaners. As an official puts it: "no one can now say we are not on top of the problem". Obviously, the people of France are fed up with literally being on top of the problem!

When the silicon chip was first produced, it was hailed as heralding a revolution in the way we live. Did anyone ever envisage that the resultant technology would be used to track dog poo? I think not!

Full article here.

It's All Go On The Scillies!

As I'm sure we're all aware, the Scilly Isles are no more than a hotbed of revolution and law breaking.

The situation is so bad that Radio Scilly has focused on the issue of dog fouling. Andy Thomas is leading the way in this battle against the greatest grumble on the island. In fact, he is heading up a public consultation.

He is an enforcement officer, I am, therefore, relieved to learn that he will not be using just any old witness statement! Obviously, only professional witnesses will be good enough to get offenders before the criminal courts.

The older among us might remember that one of our former Prime Ministers, Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, and his wife, Mary, were famous for holidaying in the Scillies. I cannot imagine that the Islanders would have allowed their dogs to spoil Harold and Mary's holiday.

My message is, therefore, clear. Unless the Islanders want David Cameron on their doorstep, they need to clean their act up!

Listen to Andy's words of advice below.

10,000 hits!!

We just made

Thanks guys :-)

Shell it not shovel it.

Shell It hardens poo in seconds and breaks it up into "a neighbour friendly lawn fertiliser!!!"

I don't think I need to say anymore - where's my phone & credit card - $19.95 + $5.99 p+p is a small price to pay to stop my neighbour pushing a shovel full of dog faeces down my throat.

Yet more scary women.

I love it when people lose it over dog fouling and take the law into their own hands - remember the naked pooper scooper, ASBO woman, the dog fouling rant & the woman who took to throwing dog poop at her customer ?

Apart from the fact that they all had "a thing about dog shit" - they were also all women. Not sure if women have a lower threshold when it comes to dog fouling, but here's yet another story about a scary woman who just couldn't take it anymore ...

Chicago Sun-Times gives us this story:

Susan Miller was so frustrated by her neighbor not cleaning up her dog’s poop that she went ballistic after stepping into one pile too many and decided to launch her offensive at her neighbour’s sliding patio screen. In addition to hurling the offending shit, she also strung up several plastic bags of dog poop around the neighbour’s patio and front door. As a finishing flourish, she took a sign from the apartment complex requesting that residents clean up after their dog and stuck it in her neighbours garden.

Susan Miller

 

Naperville police officers were called about 8:18 pm to Miller's home on the 800 block of Beaumont Drive, in the Brittany Springs apartment complex. The 43-year-old Miller was apparently "fed up with dog faeces" being left on the grounds of the complex, and stated to officers she had, "decided to wipe the dog faeces which she stepped in on the porch of the dog owner."

Miller was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

Most of us would have just shut up and tried to forget the incident, but not our Susan - she went on to release a YouTube video to defend her actions!

I love scary women! :-)

Football Sponsorship.

"The dog population in Tameside is estimated at 30,000, producing around 12 tonnes of excrement a day!"

It was facts such as this that fired the Dog Fouling & Red Rubber Bands blogger staff into action - we had to do something to help the people of Tameside.

After some negotiation we eventually secured a 2 year deal to sponsor the football strips for the local under 16 Sunday League football team - Tameside Tiddlers. I think you will agree that we get our message across very well.

The only problem is - the team have to run around the pitch as one unit or the letters on their backs don't make sense! :-)

Dog Fouling - Most Written About to MPs, Yet The Killer Of Political Careers!

You will all remember Danny Kushlick, our hero, who didn't quite win a seat at Bristol at the last election, missing by several thousand votes.

This was bad enough but my research suggests that the topic of dog fouling has ended the political ambitions of SNP member John Mason. John was a rising star of the party. In July 2008, he won a by-election for the SNP in Glasgow East. A former Labour stronghold, John took it for the SNP for the first time ever.

No doubt viewed as a future high flying politician, John made a fatal mistake. He sought to take the issue of dog fouling to the next level. Consequently, he lost by nearly 12,000 votes.

What is it about dog fouling? We all hate it, we all want to see it eliminated, yet the mention of it destroys political careers. See John's big mistake below. Personally, I congratulate him on the excellent way he presents the need to combat this issue. Why ever did the electorate reject him?

John Mason Discusses Local Issues - Dog Fouling - Funny blooper videos are here

Drop Dead Fred

Drop Dead Fred was a crazy comedy film from 1991 that starred Rik Mayall & Phoebe Cates. Rik played Drop Dead Fred - an imaginary friend of young Phoebe. He returns to her life when she is much older and causes havok in her life.

The only reason I mention this film is that Drop Dead Fred seems to have an affinity with "dog poo". In one famous scene he covers his shoes in dog faeces from the garden, walks into the house on his hands and then proceeds to clean his feet on the beige living room carpet and chairs.

Something we all yern to do some time in our life :-)

Aimee & The Dog Poo Fairy

Behind every campaign there is a real person that is affected and the reason we all continue the fight. In this case it is little Aimee Langdon.

Aimee is only two years old and was happily playing in her local Manchester playground last month. She fell & put her hand in dog muck. Moments later she wiped her left eye with her hand, transferring some of the faeces to her face.

Her mum, Suzanne, was just feet away but was too late to stop her child catching an infection which has now claimed most of the sight in that left eye.

Suzanne cleaned her child's eye at once then took her home and bathed it, but within 48 hours it was clear the infection had worsened.

Aimee was diagnosed with the disease toxocariasis normally passed on to humans by dog or cat poo infected with roundworm and this in turn can lead to blindness.

That fleeting moment in the playground now haunts Suzanne, while her Aimee's damaged eye sees only dark shapes.

Suzanne says, "Aimee's condition is the consequence of just one thoughtless dog owner - how can I explain to a two-year-old that she will be unable to see out of one eye ever again?"

Since then Suzanne and brave little Aimee have launched a UK campaign with the Keep Britain Tidy initiative, to rid the country of dog-fouling.

The month-long action - with posters all over the country - is backed by 85 local councils and will tell dog owners: "There's no such thing as the Dog Poo Fairy".

There are about eight million dogs in the UK, producing around one million tonnes of faeces each year, so it's no wonder dog-fouling is the most offensive type of litter on our streets and is constantly rated by the public as one of the most important issues affecting their local area.

Regardless of all the jokes we make about dog fouling - lets do it for the kids. Kids like Aimee.

Dog Shit Blues - Variation On A Theme

This is the second song of this title, which we have featured on this site. If nothing else, it indicates just how important this topic is.

Our first post was a solo artiste. This is a group. The cult spreads! I am not only impressed by the group but also by the audience. They clearly love it. I wonder how much was being smeared across the dance floor?

Take time to listen to this song, it is a future icon!

Oxford - Seat Of Learning, Streets Of Heaving Dirt

Oxford is cracking down on major crime. Fines for dog fouling will be increased from £50 to £80 and will be enforceable on more city streets. Thank goodness Oxford City Council has a collective appreciation of what matters.

Councillor John Tanner has an understanding of the dog fouling issue, which has passed most people by. He sums it up in words,which would have brought tears to the eyes of Shakespeare or Quentin Tarantino: "There’s nothing worse than getting it on your shoe, except perhaps getting on the wheels of a pushchair." Thank you, John, you are the first to introduce pushchairs into the argument. I can only assume that you have experienced this first hand. Nice one!




See picture above. Councillor John Tanner, centre, with dog warden Ken Williams, right, and responsible dog owner Richard Burley with his pet Sasha. Imagine the excrement those four could produce in 24 hours. Let's hope they all behave responsibly!

Full article here.

Don't Do It Twice In Leeds!

Elizabeth Eardley appears to have no fear of the authorities in Leeds. Elizabeth is a professional dog walker. In January 2007, she received a £75 fixed penalty for failing to clear up after a dog.

Some might have decided not to offend again....but not Elizabeth! In January, she entered a park in Bramley with ten dogs. One of the dogs fouled the park and she failed to clean it up. This led to a visit to Leeds Magistrates Court, where she pleaded guilty. This resulted in a fine of £50, costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £15. Total £315. Quite an expensive bowel movement; significantly more than a human pays at Victoria railway station for example.

As councillor Tom Murray put it: "it is simply unacceptable that a minority of dog owners are failing to honour their responsibilities to keep our environment clean by blighting our parks and countryside with dog dirt."

I cannot agree more that this is a valuable use of court time. While people are receiving cautions at police stations for theft, assault and, in some cases, even burglary, the courts are freed up to deal with the serious and meaningful issues.

While this is a short post, it goes to the very heart of our campaign.

Full article here.

Pavement Fouling - Now It's Personal

As you will all be aware, I have campaigned vigorously on this site. I am doing this for the benefit of the whole of the country, if not the world. Let me be very clear, I don't get anything for doing this. Campaigning in this way does not constitute paid employment. I do it out of a sense of moral and civic duty.

I can only assume that this is why I have been targeted in such a vile manner. The picture above is of my drive where it joins with the pavement. I returned home late yesterday evening. Thankfully, there is a nearby streetlight. On the pavement, directly outside my drive as shown above, I fortunately spotted two hideous lumps of dog excrement. Although it looks like three, take it from me, the "lump" to the right of the picture is, in fact, a slug.

This cannot be coincidence. It is very clear that somebody has seen this blog, identified me and made a statement by causing their dog to defecate outside my drive, clearly in the hope that I would trail it indoors.

They failed, I spotted it! This will not put me off. Having become a victim, I am now even more determined to fight on.

All I can do is ask that you support me and my fellow blogger, we will not be deterred!!!!

Rochdale Reports "Foul Play"

Rochdale has just launched a "Foul Play" campaign in order to wage war on the menace of dog fouling. As if things aren't bad enough in the North with the recession taking hold! Clearly, the economic situation is being worsened by the fact that streets and parks are veritably flowing with dog waste. Old ladies and young children have united to display the red card (see picture above).

There is a web link and a hotline to report offenders.

Councillor David Clayton is very clear: "we have a zero tolerance approach to dog fouling on public land". If I lived in Rochdale, this would worry me. Implicit in the councillor's statement is that he doesn't care if someone allows their dog to enter my garden and defecate everywhere. Is this really where our democracy has led us?

I will leave you with another gem from Councillor Clayton: "Those who choose to leave it on the ground or hang it in bags from trees and fences are totally irresponsible." Thank you, David, without your intervention it would never have occurred to me that hanging dog excrement from a tree is irresponsible. Until I read your statement, I had always viewed it as an act of artistic expression!

Full article here.

Snodland Goes Cleaner

Snodland is to be found in North Kent. As many residents and visitors will observe, Snodland cannot be flushed! Therefore, an alternative approach is required. This is where the "Snodland Goes Cleaner" campaign comes into its own.

In 2008, the local partnership ran a "caught doing right" initiative, whereby dog walkers were rewarded if found picking up after their dogs.

Following this raging success, the stated plan for 2010 is to "focus on dog fouling in the town". The campaign has kicked off with a number of innovative posters. While I think that every one of these posters is an example of stunning artistic taste and imagination, I will reproduce just one below (and I never realised that dogs could read):

The real highlight of this campaign must, however, be the bone shaped, refillable dog poo bag carriers, which can be attached to your dog's lead or collar. Is there no end to the efforts being made to keep the streets of Snodland clear? The picture below says it all.


See all the brilliant posters here.

Bradford Bonzo - Our Latest Hero

Denholme in Bradford appears to be suffering from litter and dog fouling. Chris Murdoch, the ward coordinator for Bingley and Bingley Rural Wards, is very clear about these issues. In her video, she makes instant reference to dog fouling. A touching transcript of the relevant video can be read here.

The chief weapon in her arsenal is "Bradford Bonzo" (BB). BB teaches the children in a local school about the dangers of dog fouling. It's really interesting to see how times have moved on. When I was younger, we were taught how to cross the road in safety. Now, it appears, crossing the road is no longer an issue as long as your shoes are clean when you reach the other side. Never mind the dangers of the traffic!

Let's all get behind BB and ensure that we "bag it and bin it in Denholme"

Have You Seen A Better Sign?

Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands, we have been running an unofficial "best sign" contest. Some we have published while others now form part of our collection. I feel, however, compelled to publish this one for all to see.

This sign is to be found in Penge in the London Borough of Bromley.

There is little I can say other than "what a beauty". The reason I like it so much is the way (deliberately or otherwise) it links dog fouling with the need to make an emergency call. The emergency number and the anti-fouling sign totally overshadow the non-emergency number. Whatever the intention of the designer, the effect is to encourage a "999" call when a dog defecates.

Bromley has featured here before and, given the commitment of the local authority to dealing with dog fouling, I fancy we will see Bromley here again in the future.

If you know of a better sign, please post a link in the comments for this post. I challenge you to find a mouth-watering example of anti-fouling advertising, which beats this manifestation of near perfection.

Professionals At Work

There's not much I can say about this video. Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands HQ we frequently explore ways to use dog waste in a constructive manner. These young men have certainly found an outlet for constructive activity. That said, we would, of course, never condone criminality!

Don't Dance Around The Subject!

While I understand the message in this video, I cannot get the looking into each other's eyes at the end. What is the relevance? What is the message? I don't know but full marks to North Lincs Council for at least trying. For my part, I would sooner have seen the council worker cover his shoes.

Rev Elizabeth - A Fellow Blogger, A Kindred Spirit

Rev Elizabeth, we thank you for your poem and your picture!

Red rubber bands move us in many directions. Yours has been to poetry! Also, we have had little contact from Ireland (North or South). It is, therefore, humbling to discover that red rubber bands abound on both sides of the water.

I hope you don't mind us making contact in this way. I will post a link to your poem so that all our readers might enjoy it.

I also hope you and Eliot are well!

Read the poem here.

One more shit and the dog gets it.

Blimey, now everyone is at it - using "shock" tactics to try and stop dog fouling taking place in their town.

Forget Hastings - Gary Hackett from Paignton, South Devon has gone one step further and is threatening to shoot any dog he finds fouling his pitch & putt course!!

Gary Hackett said he picks up about 21 dog deposits a day(!!) from his greens at Roundham Gardens.

Now, he has put up hard-hitting posters showing a dog with a gun to its head.

The posters, designed by Gary's son Adam, 19, have caused some alarm. One holidaymaker has said she will not return to the gardens because of them.

But Gary has defended his decision to put up the posters saying he wants irresponsible dog owners to take notice.

He even keeps a dog-dirt diary and has resorted to individually sign posting doggy deposits to shame lazy owners.

Gary, 49, said: "I hope people would see the poster as a joke. But I have to get my message across because I am at my wits end. I am sick of clearing up other people's dog mess which is damaging my greens."

Gary has been branded a dog hater by some walkers in the park. But Gary said he loves dogs and has two of his own on site most days — Thomas the cocker spaniel and Henry the shih tzu.

"I even provide water for people's dogs and I'll give them a treat at the hut. All I ask is that people clear up after their pets and keep them under control."

Gary, who leases the green from the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, said that he has even found mess in the putting holes!

He said: "The day dog-walkers blame the night dog-walkers and the night walkers blame the day. I have even camped out at night to try and catch them at it."

If a dog can get a hole in one with one of its shits, then don't shoot it Gary, put it on the stage :-)

Hastings And "Foul" Language, Right Or Wrong? You Decide!

Hastings council has adopted a radical approach to shocking the public into appreciating the dangers of dog fouling. As the examples below clearly demonstrate, they have resorted to the use of "foul" language.

As it states on the Hastings Council website; "Dog mess on the streets and in parks is one of our residents' major concerns and we take it very seriously which is why we're launching a hard hitting campaign over the rest of the Summer."

The BBC website reports a local resident as saying; "What kind of impression does this give of the town? And for children - I don't want to be explaining to children why they can't use that word but it's ok to see it on posters."

So there we see a public united in opposition to dog fouling but divided on the use of language. Ultimately, it is for you, our readers, our public, to decide.

Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands HQ, we have debated the issue at length. After much soul searching and detailed argument, we have decided that it is funny! Anything, which is funny and opposes the menace, which runs through our streets, is ok by us.

Meanwhile, if you go to Hastings, it is clearly awash if this poster campaign has been declared to be necesary. Therefore, go ready to clean your shoes before returning to your chosen form of transport.

Do not leave with haste from Hastings!

Hastings article here.

BBC article here.

Keep Britain Tidy - Brief Statistics

Statistics are quite boring but these are very meaningful. I will keep this post brief. Keep Britain Tidy advises us that, in 2008, the UK dog population was estimated to be 7.3 million, producing approximately 1,000 tonnes of excrement per day.

I think we need say no more.

Full article here.

Poole Council Takes Advice From This Site

Over 12 months ago, while advertising"National Poop Scoop Week", this site celebrated the idea formed by John Wood, Sherwood Forest Community Ranger. John had decided to paint piles of dog excrement fluorescent pink to warn members of the public (archive here).

Who would have thought that Poole Council would visit this site and take up the idea? After finding some 200 piles of mess in an alley near Poole High School, the council has decided to paint the deposits green.

Opposition Lib Dem Councillor Brian Clements described this as a "bizarre thing to do". Shaun Robson, head of environmental services, stated; "unfortunately, we have a small minority that don't seem to get the message", the emphasis is mine. Brian seems to have missed the hidden humour in his statement.

I now regard my Poole vases as being even more valuable. I suggest the following strap line:

Mess With Poole And We'll Paint Your Stool!

Full article here.

Christchurch - "Steamer" Point Nature Reserve Lives Up To Its Name!

Christchurch has decided to take the menace of dog fouling seriously and has declared that any person that is known to be a repeat offender will not be given the option of paying a fixed penalty of £50. They will instead be reported for prosecution and conviction which could lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

This seems to have been prompted by the issuing of two fixed penalty notices for dog fouling at the "Steamer" Point Nature Reserve. I can just imagine the strap line, which the council could use in its new campaign.

Don't Leave a "steamer" at Steamer Point.

There also appears to be some kind of strange cult in existence at Christchurch. Councillor Ray Nottage observes: "It's often more difficult to catch offenders because they allow their dog to do its business at night or when there's no-one around". Does this relate to some form of witchcraft? Why would anybody be crawling around a nature reserve at night allowing their dog to defecate with impunity? As portfolio holder for a "safe and healthy community", it's time Ray turned his attention to the wider implications.

For now, I'm just happy to see Christchurch taking its place in the campaign.

Christchurch, where time is pleasant and fouling never present!

Full article here.

Dog Fouling Meets With An ASBO

Margaret Strathearn

Have a look at the picture above and ask "would you argue with Margaret"? Then, imagine that she is accompanied by a large German Shepherd. I have no hesitation in stating that I would think twice. If you feel that way also, then you would indeed be wise!

Margaret lives in Lower Addiscombe Road in Croydon. She decided, however, that she would exercise her dog outside two nearby blocks of flats. She allowed her dog to defecate all over the garden. When this was pointed out to her, she replied with a torrent of abuse. As one elderly resident put it: "there's nothing we can do. Her arms are twice as big as my waist. She could take a grown man down". Once again, I refer you to the picture.

Full marks, however, to Croydon council antisocial behaviour unit. They warned her, they filmed her, they obtained an interim ASBO (antisocial behaviour order). This site has seen the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act used to combat dog fouling (archive here), now we see an interim ASBO being granted. This is progress indeed.

Croydon Today points out that Margaret lives in a block of flats and any act against her could distress others living there. Would this include excrement through her letter box? This is, of curse, a purely rhetorical question as, here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands, we could never condone or encourage such an act, I cannot stress that enough!

I leave you with the words of councillor Dudley Mead: "To use dog fouling as a way of antagonising and upsetting others is both repulsive and bizarre". Amen to that, Dudley!

Full article here.

Once Again, The Dangers of Dog Fouling Become Clear

There's not a lot I can say about this. Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands we repeatedly warn of the dangers of dog fouling. People often just won't listen. This video gives stark warning of the dangers. I can only advise that you check and clear your lawn before mowing!

National Poop Scoop Week Is Here - Thank You GMTV!

Grab It, Bag It, Bin It!

This week, 26 July to 2 August, is "National Poop Scoop Week". This is being heavily promoted by GMTV. I was getting ready for work this morning when my wife called out that I needed to watch the TV. I was truly moved! Suddenly, this most serious of topics was receiving national coverage.

GMTV has posted many interesting facts on its website. It appears that this is still the topic, about which MPs receive the most correspondence, yet still they focus on violence and acquisitive crime. When will they wake up?

The comments on the subsequent blog are well worth reading. One reader suggests that, before being allowed to have a dog, the prospective owner should have dog faeces walked through their house, presumably to heighten awareness.

Another reader from Cornwall raises the issue of dog fouling alongside the leaving of used nappies on the beach.

Uplifted at this media support, I set off for the railway station. The footpath across the fields was a haze of flies. This was because, as I walked, I disturbed countless clusters of flies as they consumed the many piles of dog faeces along the way. GMTV, we need you, we thank you!

Article here.

Summer holidays

I'm off on my summer holidays, so I am leaving my sidekick, Peter, in sole charge of the blog. I expect to see our flags up to 100, with 50+ followers and over 9000 visitors Peter or you are sacked :-) 

This Isn't Funny, What Is The Matter With Some People?

There's really not much, which I can say about this. Local authorities provide dog waste bins to help the entire community. They aren't put there for people to misuse. Why can't people behave in a reasonable and acceptable way.

Speaking for myself, I have and use a toilet. I have done for some 50 years. Why would I, or anyone, feel the urge to use a dog waste bin? Well, this young man could answer that question.

I sit here typing in disgust!

Dog shit on your shoe ...

Ad agencies fascinate me. They use every means at their disposal to get their clients message across to the gullible public.

Remember Islington Council's famous "hot dog" turd advert ?

Or the French business man's "lucky" advert ?

Now a Philippine ad agency has taken things to the next level when advertising Tolnaftate anti fungal cream and God is it a level that none of us want to ever get to!

I've had athletes foot before, as I'm sure most of you have, but I have never had anything that makes me feel that me feet are made of dog shit!

This "award winning" and very successful billboard advert attracted so many complaints that even a Philippine Government spokesperson was forced to comment, "I hate foot fungus, smelly feet & dog fouling ... if Tolnaflate can raise awareness of all these issues then its good for the country & good for the world".

I wonder if Nike want to sponsor these trainers ? :-)

Watch Your Dog As It Defecates!

Pam Robson didn't. She took her eye off the ball so to speak and did not watch her dog as it fouled. Aware, however, that her dog was letting one go, she acted as she felt was right and went and scooped up some excrement from where the act had taken place.

She was then approached by 2 council wardens. Did they congratulate her? No, they issued her with a fixed penalty notice for allowing her dog to foul. She had cleared up the wrong pile!

Pam cleared up the other pile but it was too late and she received notification of a fine. Pam contacted her MP and a solicitor and stood her ground. The council gave way in the face of impending court proceedings.

Were they right to give in? My feeling is that she failed to comply with the law as regards this most serious of offences. It is, therefore, fair to say that she was asking for it but some might feel that the outcome was just but has served as a warning to others.

What do you feel? Leave a comment below.

Full story here.

Big Brother Watch Fails To Convince The Public

Big Brother Watch is an organisation, which would have you believe that it campaigns for your rights. Some might say that it exists to support hopeless causes just to keep the employees going but that's to be decided in another arena.

It claims a victory over West Berkshire Council but not everyone agrees.



This relates once again to the use of RIPA (The Regulation Of Investigatory Powers Act). BBW seems to feel that it is outrageous to use CCTV to catch any wrongdoing. I must admit, I find that a little strange as the easiest way to avoid capture is to obey the rules but what do I know?
The most interesting part of the article is the subsequent blog. BBW is claiming a victory but all that West Berkshire Council is doing is pointing out that it is complying with the law. Our message here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands HQ is, however, vindicated by the observations of Jennifer H who writes: "As far as I'm concerned, use of RIPA for council investigations of incidents such as dog fouling are to be roundly applauded. This is a very significant issue where I live and there have recently been several prosecutions for dog fouling in our area."
Thank you, Jennifer, you have given us the strength to carry on!
Full article here.

The Tarring Turd Burglar.

Things are getting tougher all the time. What with unemployment on the rise, pay freezes, increased VAT & reduced benefits. Its enough to make our young men frustrated & angry and drive them to crime ...

That's exactly what a young man has done in Worthing in Sussex, UK but in a way that has surprised even our most crime hardened police. Is this something that we should be warning others about ?

Picture the scene.

Its a lovely sunny Sunday morning in June and a local pensioner is out walking her dog near the Post Office in the High Street in Tarring, West Sussex. She has just cleaned up after her dog and is carrying the offending item in a poo bag.

All of a sudden a young man appears on a bike, cycling at speed towards her. Too late to react, he grabs the bag from her hand and cycles off never to be seen again.

The bag-snatcher on a bicycle pinched a bag of dog poo from the elderly dog-walker!

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said, "A teenager on his pushbike came past her and snatched the bag, perhaps thinking that there was something of value inside ... the lady was not harmed and clearly the thief stole nothing of value."

Police are examining skid marks left at the scene and are appealing for the suspect, who the local press have dubbed the "Tarring Turd Burglar", to come forward.

The shaken pensioner said, "He's a crap crook".

We can laugh all we want, but this true story about a pooper pilferer gives us a faecenating insight into the mind of the credit crunch criminal and should be an early wake up call for the UK Government if considering cutting back on UK Police numbers.

Be careful out there :-)

Tameside, Greater Manchester, Takes Action!

Dogs in many Tameside parks must now stay on short leads.

Tameside council has made it unlawful to use extending dog leads.

Dog owners are facing £1,000 fines if they take their pets to some Greater Manchester parks on a long lead. The ban on leads longer than 2m (6ft 5ins) applies to dozens of parks and open spaces in Tameside. Council bosses have argued that owners are more likely to clean up after their pets if they are on a short lead.
Their commitment to tackling this really serious crime is commendable. This ticket happy council proudly boasts that last year it issued 66 fixed penalty notices for dog fouling, more than double the amount (29) in 2008. Frankly, this will really teach dog owners a lesson.
What I cannot understand is the exact logical thread, which suggests that dog fouling is less likely to take place when dogs are on a shorter lead. Is that perhaps owners will not be able to take the stench from close up? Is that owners will carry corks to insert into their dogs until they get home or is it that somebody has made a mindless decision after a heavy session down the local? Who knows? All I know is that the fight is still on and that serious crime remains the focus.
Read the article here.

The Bomb Squad fires the poop.

Melinda Hofmann made the news this week in a very messy way. She owns The Bomb Squad, a small dog poop collecting company from Oregon, USA.
For the last 10 years people have paid Melinda to clean up after their dogs - talk about a crappy job!

But it all got too much for poor Melinda when one of her customers refused to pay her bill of $150 - "I just decided to give her poop back”, said Melinda, "Once I started doing it, I kind of lost all rational thought and I just got into this mode of emptying bags ... and as I was flinging the poo all over her yard - it felt really good and I just kept doing it."

By the time police arrived, Melinda had dumped 30 gallons of dog faeces on the woman's yard. “Very messy,” observed police Sgt. Dan Ritchie. Hoffman was led away in handcuffs, unrepentant.

I don't know about you, but I think this story stinks :-)

Hitler and the turd.

Proof that even Hitler hated dog fouling ...

If Barry Can Do It, So Can You!

Mr Bassnett said he had picked up about a tonne of dog mess in a year

Barry Bassnett is disabled but he cares. He has made Braunten Burrows in Devon his own. Since the car park on these beautiful sand dunes was closed and the dog waste bins removed, the area has been awash.

Barry, 64, travels around on his disability scooter and clears up the mess. Good for him!

In a statement, North Devon District Council said it had no plans to install dog litter bins, but it reminded dog owners they could face fines and possible court action for allowing pets to foul the area. A council spokeswoman said there are 100 dog bins across north Devon and due to current budgetary constraints it could not provide any more.

This is a clear indication of the ridiculous choices made by those in authority. They are quite happy to spend our taxes on schools, hospitals and helping elderly people but hardly a penny goes on dog waste bins.

Is this really why Britain fought two world wars?
Full article here.