Cornwall Again - I'm Surprised It Doesn't Sink Under The Weight!

Many of our devoted followers will be aware that Cornwall has featured on this site more than once. As far back as April 2009, I featured an overflowing dog waste bin in my home village. You can relive that post here. This bin has been replaced and there appears to have been an improvement in the emptying regime.

As, however, we are all aware, for every "Ying" there is a "Yang". As one bin closes, another one opens! No more than 3 minutes walk from the location of the bin pictured in the link above is the bin pictured below. I particularly like the bags hanging from the handle. Is it any wonder that the surrounding streets are awash? I think not!

I leave the last word to some local youths, who have put some stickers on the sign on the pole above the bin.

Given the state of the local streets, they'll be kicking more than "ass"!

Dog Fouling v Horse Dung - The Battle Continues

This blog has already highlighted the issue of horse fouling v dog faeces, see here.

While information and advice from our followers is always welcome, there is nothing like first hand experience. I am currently on holiday in Cornwall. I don't like to give away specific locations but, Trevaunance Road, you know where you are!

As the sun was shining, I decided to go for a walk. I had to stand out of the way of a large horse as it lumbered towards me. A few feet away, I saw that it had left a significant deposit on the road. I wouldn't normally photograph horse dung (well, OK, I might on a slow day) but this was essential viewing for this blog.

The above picture not only shows a significant pile of horse dung but, if you look to the left of the shadow of my shoulder as you look at it, you will also be able to make out a not insignificant pile of dog excrement lying just by the small grass verge.

The horse dung is directly opposite the entrance to a private dwelling.

If nothing else, this post is here to say: "bad luck"!

Calderdale-Halifax Central - There Is No Hope!

Over the years, I have formed a theory that dog fouling has a greater impact on our everyday lives than burglary or robbery.

This is because, even when burglary was at its height in the seventies, each of us was only likely to be burgled once every 40 years. That's now more likely to be every 50 or so.

There is, however, a confusing message coming out of Claderdale-Halifax Central ward. The crime map shows that this ward has an average crime rate with 599 total crimes in November 2011. I would, therefore, according to my theory, expect to see a wave of complaints about dog fouling.

The Halifax Courier confirms my theory by telling us that, in 2011, Calderdale council received nearly 700 complaints about dog fouling. Up to this point, my theory holds.

I did, however, throw my theory out of the window at the fact that one in six pet owners believe that you should not have to clean up after your dog!

Imagine one in six dogs allowed to foul the streets without any cleaning taking place! Actually, not hard as five out of six cleaning up would probably be something of an exception anyway!

I can only really conclude that we are a long way from solving this problem. Perhaps we just feel that cleaning our carpets is an inevitable part of modern life? I don't know.

I do know that nobody wants it through their letter box!

Cllr P J McAvoy, Dog Fouling and Darkness

Ballymena Councillor MacAvoy, or "PJ" as he is affectionately known, is no stranger to trauma. In 2007 he was hospitalised for four days after being bitten by a mosquito. This was less than a year after he was forced to stay in hospital for 52 days after being struck down by a flesh eating bug!

Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands, we are pleased to see that he is well and working for the people of Ballymena! This work now involves an attack on dog fouling. In launching his attack, PJ hits on two issues, which are well known on this blog.

CCTV has frequently featured in our reports. Indeed, references are too numerous to list here. One issue has been the proportionality of using CCTV to combat dog fouling. PJ has no qualms and is with us in a solid desire to eradicate dog fouling. As PJ puts it: "I have no hesitation in asking the town centre CCTV to monitor this problem".

The second issue is the darkness of winter. We recently saw that there has been an outbreak of dog fouling in Shetland as a result of the dark nights, see here, PJ reports that this appears to be happening in the early morning and late at night.

Once again, we see how dog fouling has universal causes and a steady, universal reaction. Full details can be read on the Belfast Telegraph here.

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. As far back as 2006, Ballymena dog warden Nigel Devine revealed that dog fouling is seasonally affected. Nigel had even seen people pretending to clean up after their dogs as cars passed but, once they believed that they were no longer being observed, they simply walked on. Ballymena Times; "Poop in the Dark".

We can comfort ourselves with Nigel's closing observation from 2006: "They will have nowhere to hide come the brighter evenings".

Cllr Slaughter - Fighting For A Cleaner Village!

Mr Bev Slaughter, vice chair of Bere Ferrers Parish Council in Devon, has thrown his weight firmly behind the issue of dog fouling.
Bev runs his own blog (good man, we need more!). He clearly loves his village and has this beautiful picture for all to see (I hope he won't mind me reproducing it here):

Bev has written about dog fouling in a local publication. I can understand why. How would the above picture look if the crisp, white snow were to be pebble dashed with an obtrusive smattering of dog faeces? Not very appealing I can well surmise!

A special council meeting has been called in the parish hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 10 January at 7.30pm. I am, however, a bit confused. While the council is clear that the meeting is 10 January, see here, Bev states that it is on 10 April, see here.

That small issue aside, Bev makes the following point: "Currently, there is some friction between certain members of the Bere Alston United Football Club and some residents about dog poo on the pitch. The Chairman of the club, Mr Will Westlake, recently presented some disgusting photographs at Council that had been taken on the pitch, all featuring dog faeces". If only the club website or Bev's blog could feature these pictures! After all a picture paints a thousand fouled pairs of soccer boots!

As Bev puts it: Dog Fouling: It's Time To Clean Up!

I urge all parishoners to be at this meeting on 10 January and work towards a "Faeces Free Ferrers"!