Night Vision Goggles - Not Just a Military Option!

Or it certainly isn't for Hyndburn council in Lancashire. Our thanks must go to the Mail Online for bringing us this story.

We've seen controversy over the use of CCTV and covert surveillance systems to combat dog fouling. Now, the use of night vision equipment to combat after dark dog fouling is bound to raise further issues of liberty v the public interest.
Councillor Ken Moss is absolutely with us and appears to have thrown his weight behind the night vision initiative. He states:"Most dog walkers are creatures of habit and if people are regularly offending in the same spot, the wardens could use that information to stamp out the irresponsible minority". Has Ken been reading our blog and seen that our founder and leader is known as "stamp on it"? Could it be that Ken is looking to slip in a pun without his electorate realising? We don't know but we welcome his support.


As ever, our thoughts should really be with those, who have to engage in the enforcement activity. While we are all grateful for our jobs in this recession hit world, not many of us would hide in bushes at night to detect dogs fouling the environment and then having to jump out on the owner. One day, it could be a vicar's wife as her poodle let's one go in the park. Not an easy situation to manage! Seeing this picture in the Mail, I imagined the following radio transmission: "Ranger control, ranger control from Alpha 1, fouling at 33 degrees north, request air support and a shovel". Hyndburn dog warden Fran Gibbons shows how his team will operate as they try to catch offenders in the town centre and elsewhere. As a closing thought, where would you really focus your attention on a night time patrol? I would suggest the ground. You won't catch anybody but you'll spare your carpets!

The Carrot, The Stick and the Stupid Advert

There is often a debate raging regarding whether or not dog fouling should be combated by penalising irresponsible owners or educating them.

Paris has featured on this bog before and appears to be aiming for the title of dog poo capital of Europe. In Europe we have a long history of criminalising anything, which involves more than merely walking along and breathing at a set rate. Hence, the new mayor of Paris, Jean Tiberi, has put aside concerns that every dog owner is a potential voter and has vowed to engage in rigorous enforcement activity. John Lichfield, a reporter for The Independent appears to live in Paris and testifies to the colourful nature of the streets. He quotes a M Midel, who has two small children. He says that he, like all Parisian parents, has taught them to walk like Parisians, not like tourists. "When we go into town, I don't say to them, `look how beautiful the streets are', or `look at the wonderful shop window'. I say, `look down and look ahead or you will stand in the crottes de chien".

While this represents the "stick" aspect, I like the "carrot" from New York. While you cannot look down in New York any more than you can in Paris, they have a different approach. They have the fantastic idea of poo bags with bar codes, which can be scanned and exchanged for coupons (poopons). See the explanation below.



Quite frankly I would, personally speaking, gather up a load of the bags and divide my daily deposit three ways every morning. That way I'd be looking at a free coffee every lunch time!

To round off, a mortgage company advert in the US has nothing to do with the above theme but I feel that it adds considerably to the debate!

Snow and Bananas

Overnight the UK turned white with nearly 12" of snow dumped in my area alone. As beautiful as it is, I have to remind you all of the dangers it can hold. Yellow snow is the first sign you should look out for!!

The next problem is working out how to pick up dog poop in the snow. Well worry no more - iScoopy Pal have that one sorted for you.

The only problem I have with their promotional video is why are they picking up ripe bananas instead of ripe dog faeces?

If dog's pooped bananas then just think of all the lovely Banoffee pie we could be making instead of picking up dog shit :-)   

Poop My Shoe - A Song to Touch All Hearts

There have been many songs published on this blog. Needless to say, they have varied in quality. Once in a while, a good song thrusts itself at us. I can truly say this of this rendition of "Poop my Shoe". It almost had tears welling up in my eyes. I love the way it doesn't focus just on dog faeces but covers a broad spectrum of animal deposits. I challenge you to listen without experiencing a wide range of emotional reactions.



I wish I could say the same thing about "Dog Poop on my Shoe". After listening to the song featured above, I felt calm and serene. After listening to this offering, it was all I could do not to cut my computer screen to watch the plasma ooze out! Music is such a powerful medium!

Poo Alley and the Scary Councillor - Bromley

The News Shopper has provided us with informative reports in the past. On this occasion, my thanks must go to one of our South London/North Kent operatives, Julian, for bringing this story to our attention.

Mr Damian Cerase (right) is tired of the state of the path that runs off Magpie Hall Lane in Bromley to Princes Plain Primary School and then on to Bishop Justus School. It appears that it is awash! Damian has been moved to consider putting up a sign, giving the alley the name, by which it is known to local parents and residents.

Councillor Colin Smith (left), Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Environment, is clearly determined to put the fear of all things bad into offenders by stating that those, who fail to clean up, "will increasingly find themselves on the wrong end of a fixed penalty notice and £80 fine as this is an area we are determined to clamp down on during 2012".

As if this wasn't enough to scare the hardest offender, Colin goes on to shock us further by declaring "Problem areas will also see hard hitting posters being put up ...". Now I've been around a bit and have seen some of the harder aspects of life but I must say that when I read that Colin was threatening people with a "hard hitting poster" my legs gave and, had I not been seated already, I would have hit the deck like a sack of spuds!

I can give no greater tribute to this whole episode than to publish a picture from the News Shopper that serves to illustrate the problem in the alley.