by Sammy Stein

Created on: November 03, 2009

All dressed up and raring to go I met my date outside the cafe where I had arranged to have lunch. She looked good and I had made an effort so I felt confident. As we sat down she wrinkled her (very pretty) nose and asked me if I could smell something. Thinking perhaps the cafe was not as good as I had thought it looked I sniffed but no, I couldn't smell a thing. We sat down and I crossed my ankles under my chair as usual. Now, I could smell something. Looking down, I turned my shoes so I could investigate their soles and the smell really hit me. Dog mess! I had also succeeded in rubbing a good dollop of the stuff on my trouser bottom as I crossed my feet.

I like dogs, I really do but dog mess is really smelly. Because dogs are largely carnivores their faeces have a particularly unpleasant smell and once I got the drift the smell put me off eating. Making a hasty retreat, we left the cafe to avoid spoiling other peoples' meals and I had to clean up as best I could. My date was sympathetic and offered me some tissue but the date got off to a bad start. Whay was I left with the cleaning up when I don't evenown a dog?

When I was small, we used to walk our dogs and push their pooh into the gutter with our foot as everyone else did but now I look back and wonder how it was ever allowed. Now I don't have a dog and I realise that dog mess is a real nuisance and clearing up after other peoples' dogs can be a problem. What is all the more annoying is that in most places where people are likely to put their feet in dog mess, there are often bins specifically for the purpose so there really is no excuse.

Recently I was gardening in the front yard when I realised I had put my trowel in a pile of dog poop- someone had allowed their dog to use our yard as a toilet and it was disgusting. I cleared it up but again, why should I have to?

With changes in what is acceptable and local byelaws, there is no reason for dog mess to be left for others to clear up. Most authorities provide not only pleasant places to walk our canine friends but also plenty of bins for the disposal of their waste and when you think of children playing on grass it is hard to believe we used to let dogs just go when they felt like it without clearing up the result!

Recently I was walking when I saw a dog having a pooh on the pavement while the owner watched. When the dog had finished, the owner simply walked away, leaving a pileof steamy stinky mess! I hate confronting people but decided now was the time. I approached him and asked him if he would like to clear up his mess. He simply said it was not his dog that had done it. He knew I had seen the dog do it- I could not believe his cheek!

Now, Iam prepared. I have to accept that sometimes a dog will be allowed to poop in my yard so before I hoe or dig I gently rake the area just to check and then I have to use the trowel to clear the mess so I can get on and garden. I have to tell you though that if I ever catch the dog who is pooping in my yard (or theirowner), I won't be such a Mr Nice Guy!

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