What to do about all the dog pooh in Dulwich?

[first mate]

What about large and instant on the spot fines for anyone caught littering (dog poo not picked up is another form of littering)- all these community wardens could be tasked with more hands on monitoring until the message gets through. Bylaws need to be changed to make it an offence to have a dog offlead on the pavement beside a public highway. Finally, compulsory chipping and dog licenses should be instated. Handheld scanners can easily be carried by community wardens. Regular scanning of dogs when people are out and about and instant fines/confiscation for unchipped dogs, might help people get more serious and responsible about dog ownership and think twice about acquisition of a dog on a whim as the latest fashion accessory.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

My point about the cold weather?

I've checked and Southwark Council have the same operatives, supervisors, managers, equipment, etc. So Southwark Council doesn't appear to have changed in anyway. So the increase in dog poo is not due to less effort ro resources in keeping our streets clean.

I'm guessing East Dulwich hasn't gone dog buying mad?

So the only other factor I can think of is its been a lot colder. Does that influence dog or dog owner behaviour causing this dog poo outbreak?

[first mate]

James,

My guess would be that more of the wrong type are owning dogs ( a cursory glance at animal rescue centres servicing/ near Southwark shows a huge rise in certain types of dog, plus litters of puppies). Such people are more likely to allow their dogs to poo on the path in very cold weather/rain because they are too lazy to go to the park (where the poo is more likely to be hidden in undergrowth and therefore not seen, though I don't condone that). Also, during the snow I am guessing successive deposits will have been covered by snow etc..only reappearing after the thaw. In the last year I have noticed a great rise in the prevalence of certain types of dog- they are often walked offlead around the streets- I think there is a clue here as to why we have seen a sudden increase in dog poo. It really only takes a few antisocial types, James, to have a big impact on a neighbourhood, as I'm sure you know.

[londonloves]

I slipped on a turd a couple of nights ago- GG end of CPR, was watching where I was going but it was dark and so are dog turds!-feet went flying from under me but I managed to grab on to a garden fence before I hit the ground.I recounted the tale to my other half who found the image of me slipping in poo and grasping onto a fence especially amusing- I pointed out that if I had hit the ground-it would have been onto my bad hip-causing a repeat of the loose stair carpet incident of 2004 which resulted in my being bed ridden for nearly 6 months and needing constant care and waiting on hand and foot....the laughter ceased...(although i think I may have heard someone chuckling as i spent the next 30mins picking s**t of the soles of my shoes...) So to conclude I will now only be venturing out after dark with a miners light strapped to my head,wellington boots on my feet and a pillow strapped to my hip-do say hello if you see me about....

[James Barber]

I've had a further update from the head of Southwark's street cleaning service.

The management team and suppervsors have'nt changed. What might have occurred is the street cleaners not being reminded recently thatthey clear up people's dog poos. As the worst part of their job apparently some need regular reminding. Disappointing they have to do this anyway.

So, all street cleaners will be reminded and we'll see if this makes a difference.

[sophiesofa]

I don't blame them - not a nice part of the job!

[first mate]

James,

I really do think that over the very cold weather poo will have built up but been hidden by snow etc..- where not even cleaners would see it.

Would also point out that one dog per street will produce 14 deposits of excreta a week. If that is not picked up by the irresponsible owner you do not have to be a genius to see how quickly just one bad owner can leave our streets heavily befouled.

There are certain cultures that loathe dogs. I would imagine that if as a cleaner you were a member of that culture you would be extremely reluctant to pick up dog poo and, in my view, why should you. The real solution is to find a way of catching the owners that don't pick up and hit them hard with a penalty of some kind. Perhaps it requires some very close round the clock monitoring on streets where there is a lot of dog poo, until culprits are caught red-handed and examples made. Those council cars with CCTV atop might be just the thing.

To your knowledge has anyone ever been issued with a fine for dog fouling that is not picked up?

[ED Newbie]

I just want to say thanks to the dog owner that left a big trail of dog poo on FH road last night right next to the bus stop that my partner trod on! These people have no respect for their community and should be fined! I find it completely disgusting that they allow their dogs to do this.

[cassidy]

Its not just the type you describe who refuse to pick up their dog poo i've also witnessed a number of parents walking their children to and from school along by goose green and adys road allowing their dogs to deposit while they continue to walk on.

When challenged they point out the lack of dog bins as if thats a valid excuse.

[keripowell]

I think the main problem around Sylvester / Heber Roads are actually Fox Poo. I campaigned in 1999 for dog poo bins and we now have them.

[cate]

How many dog poo bins are deemed essential per street?

[first mate]

Cassidy,

Those parents should be well and truly ashamed of themselves. What a bad example to set for their children- my rubbish but let someone else pick it up because I'm too 'busy'(lazy), and outside a school too- well, well. Lack of bins, what absolute nonsense, you just carry the bag until you get to a bin- it's in a plastic bag it can't hurt you. I also believe, though I'm happy to be corrected, that most people would not object to you popping a bag into their bin (if out on the street)- better there than turds left for the cleaners to pick up or dog owners like me to slip in!

In a similar vein, I do see a lot of kids just dropping stuff willy nilly on the streets. Do we need to be educating children (and some of their parents) a little more about littering- oh as well as the errant dog owners.

[TonyQuinn]

Just a quick note, I think everyone with knows the difference between the dog and fox variety. Anyway, just wanted to say I was throroughly impressed that the council have leafleted my road about it. Hopefully it will shame individuals to get a grip......as i said before. ZERO TOLERANCE.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

Sotuhwark Council Community Wardens do indeed issue fines to dog owners who don't pick up.

I'll find out how many generally and how many in East Dulwich.

[Domitianus]

Have to say it - fair play to him, Mr Barber does seem to take an interest and hasn't waited until election time to do so. And, no, I am not political. I don't even vote.

[SteveT]

J Barber wrote:- Sotuhwark Council Community Wardens do indeed issue fines to dog owners who don't pick up.

How do they obtain the address of the owner?

[Amysdad]

Does dog poo contain DNA?

[Penguin68]

Does dog poo contain DNA? Of the other animals it's been eating (according to an old CSI, anyway). I suspect it would contain shed cells of its own as well. But DNA testing is only useful if you have a reference sample to match it with - if you know which dog dealt it, then a simple witness statement of the act would do, if you don't, well, DNA testing ED dogs to find a match isn't exactly a cheap option.

So I suspect the fining is all about witnessed offences.

[Magpie]

Forget Neighbourhood watch schemes we should have a "dog poo watch scheme" where groups of local volunteers patrol the streets looking for anti-social animals and their dogs. Should an offence occur, the only remedy is to rub the perps nose in the evidence. It stops puppies doing their business inside.

[davidh]

magpie, do listen to yourself. dog poo vigilantes patrolling the streets, desperately looking for something to outrage them

[Magpie]

Was being a bit sarcy . . . .

[m&m fairy]

I have to say that as a dog walker i feel embarrassed and so does my partner when we take our dogs walking round east dulwich. We have both been confronted on 2 occasions as to whether we are picking up after our dogs. We would never dream of not picking up their "poo" its part and parcel of being a responsible dog owner. It seems that there are a few that ruin things for us as is always the case. But we are perplexed as to why those that are irresponsible are never seen, I certainly keep an eye out for this and appreciate others to do the same and not be quick to judge others like me who always make sure they clean up after their dogs. It seems to me that those who cannot be responsible and look after both their animals and their environment should be named and shamed.

[Siduhe]

When I lived in SE1 and a similar issue occurred in a particular park, a proactive "poo committee" of responsible owners spent two weeks flagging every stray poo with a can of gold (non perm) spray and a stick/flag arrangement. If they saw the offender, they wrote down a description of dog and owner on the flag. It cut down on the amount of stray poo dramatically by all accounts.

I guess the problem here would be that a lot of this is on the street, so would be cleared by Southwark rather than serving to highlight the scale of the issue?

[Ginster]

I agree how disgusting and unhygienic it is and there are always several in the estate opposite East Dulwich station which is my route to the station. Without fail there is always one right next to a yellow stencil trying to prevent this very thing so I'm not sure how much they really help. Everyone knows they should clear up after their dogs, however it seems ED have a far too large group who don't. I also mentioned it when the MPs were canvassing recently - will also note the council links mentioned in here. I would definitely mention it to a dog owner if I saw them walk off but so far not seen this "in action".

Just a shame that people care less in general these days - I would never litter, but plenty do, likewise if I had a dog I would know the responsibility that comes with it regarding cleaning up!

[SteveT]

The last time I saw a dog fouling the pavement was a bruiser dog, off lead, with a 6 foot lout accompanying it.

This is the type, not the people who have 'pet' dogs that care for their animal.