It is against the law in the UK to allow your dog to foul on the pavement or in public spaces, making owners responsible for cleaning up their pet's mess. One woman was recently hit with a £1,000 fine for refusing to pick up her pooch's poo piles, after ignoring numerous complaints from neighbours.
And it seems she isn't the only one turning a blind eye to the problem - a dog walker is insisting his neighbourhood "doesn't mind" his large pooch pooing on the grass. But one person that lives nearby has taken to Reddit to rant about his behaviour, reassuring everybody that they really do mind.
The post reads: "The other day my dog and I were out on a walk in the neighbourhood, and I noticed a man ahead with a rather large dog standing in someone's yard while the dog used the bathroom. He didn't clean it up.
"When we walked past, I saw the huge pile of [poo] still there, and the man and his dog had stopped. I asked if he needed a poop bag.
"He said no because the owners of the house don't mind and this is a 'poop is allowed neighbourhood'.
"I didn't believe it because their yard was pristine, but he kept talking pointing out houses where people allegedly didn't mind when dogs [pooed] in their yards, and I responded with 'well I mind'."
The Reddit user told the dog walker that it isn't acceptable to leave his dog's mess in strangers' gardens.
Though he argued that the locals "didn't care" and the neighbour should mind their own business.
People online were in agreement that the dog walker was "making it up" and the homeowners would definitely care.
"You should have gone knocked on the door and asked if it's true. Bet he would have been out there fast," someone said.
"As far as I know, there are no residential areas where residents allow owners to leave the mess behind," another agreed.
"This guy is crazy and lazy," a third person commented.
Many people advised her to anonymously warn the neighbours of him and put a sign up on the grass.
"Just pick up after your dog. Always. It's part of owning a dog, and is non-negotiable," a person wrote.
Not only is dog fouling unpleasant, it can be dangerous and contact with canine excrement can cause a nasty infection known as toxocariasis, with symptoms of dizziness, nausea and even blindness or seizures.
Keep Britain Tidy has been successfully campaigning for years to reduce dog mess on the streets.
In England and Wales, anyone who fails to clear up after their dog can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £100.
If the case goes to court this could cost the owner or person in charge of the animal up to £1,000.
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments.
