Dog poo!!!
Exmouth seems to be suffering once again with an inconsiderate and lazy section of dog owners who allow their dogs to foul anywhere and then deiberately leave it and walk on.
This is a long standing problem which seemed to get better with the initial provision of dog-waste bins and notices stating the fines that can (and should!!) be imposed for failing to collect their pets droppings and dispose of them correctly (I have even seen one owner scoop up it's dogs mess into a bag, then promptly toss it up into the branches of a nearby bush!! Only 100 yards away in the direction he was walking was a disposal bin for dog waste so it really was just unbelievable)
However, it looks like quite a few just can't be bothered anymore so leave the paths, lanes and the beach to be nothing more than an open toilet with no regard to anybody else.
After all, it only takes a minority of bad owners to give all the responsible ones the same bad reputation and create a lot of bad feeling towards dogs....

By mustavafag at 16:45 on 19/01/11

Re-post

Yes, sadly I can confirm this. Montpellier Road, Gussiford Lane and Hartley Road are absolutely littered with dog mess. I am scraping the mess of my children's shoes almost every day.

I have put up signs made by local primary school pupils asking dog owners to clean up after their pets but unfortunately this plea seems to fall on deaf ears with some owners.

Just yesterday, I found a huge pile of it on the lovely playground on the Maer.
I have personally seen Council wardens mounting signs at both entries of the playground stating that dogs are not allowed in the play area but the signs are being ripped off on a regular basis. At least leave the play areas dog free and mess free. PLEASE!

By Storm_Force at 17:07 on 20/01/11
Report
The problem is entirely due to irresponsible and lazy dog owners, who fail to clear up after their animals. A few weeks ago I was walking along the Parade, near the Stead & Simpson shoe shop and Magnolia Centre entrance. A dog did its business - a vast amount - on to the pavement directly in front of me. It was utterly disgusting, and I nearly walked straight into it. The dog's owner didn't seem at all bothered by the incident. Three hours later, the dog mess - now trodden in by a great many feet - was still there, on a main entrance to the Magnolia Centre. This is just one of many incidents I have witnessed in the past few years in Exmouth. Dog owners are to blame. Where is their community spirit? And where are their poo bags? And even when they do use poo bags, they chuck them to the side of the road or even up a tree. Don't they realise that the bags won't degrade and continue to be a health hazard for even longer? Some of these dog owners must be parents. Don't they realize the dangers for children? It just beggars belief...

By TheGreenMan at 18:06 on 20/01/11
Report
We had a similar problem when we lived in London where Lewisham Council introduced on the spot fines (£75 Fixed Penalty Notice) for owners breaking Dog Control Orders. It didn't work and nobody took any notice of the signs. A Councillor walked around a "hot spot" with the Environmental team, mapping the dog poo, identifying the routes and times of the fouling. The conclusion reached was that the route was to and from a local Primary school, every school day. A number of houses were leafletted and the school was informed to make the parents aware of the problem.

Maybe our Councillors should do something similar with our Environmental team to get to the bottom of it? ('scuse the pun...)

By emsie72 at 11:06 on 22/01/11
Report
Fascinating stuff emsie72! Well, it's certainly something our councillors should consider... The stuff was on the pavement, right outside our front door yesterday, and we tramped some of it in. Utterly revolting.

By TheGreenMan at 11:17 on 22/01/11
Report
there is no reason why anyone shouldnt pick up after their dogs, i am the proud owner of 8.... ( sorry not a typo!!) and i can say i am responsible for any mess they may make and therefore wouldnt dream of going out armed for at least 2 poo's per dog! i also have children, so i am aware of dangers of dog mess, and the danger is again with those irresponsible few who dont clear up and who dont work or vaccinate their dogs.
Please dont tar us all with the same brush, we arent all bad :)

I have recently started pet dog training classes for local people, in the hope i can help educate a few, to provide manners aswell as hygiene for their pets :)

By Tail-Spin at 17:22 on 20/07/11
Report