How can we have pride in Jersey?
Wednesday 6th January 2010, 2:59PM GMT.
From Philip Clyde-Smith.
WHILE walking on the north coast with some guests from the UK, I was appalled to see a number of black plastic bags. Upon investigation I discovered they contained dog faeces.
I wonder, if someone will go to the trouble of carrying a black plastic bag purely to pick up said faeces, is it too much to ask them to deposit it in the bin?
How can anyone be expected to have pride in their Island when the coastline is littered with black plastic bans of dog filth?
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Because dog owners don’t have to obey rules apparently. Try walking around Val de la Mar, lots of blue, white, clear, black bags seemingly containing dog poo. On the path and also between the path and the benches (yes, those benches are there are will get used, are we supposed to teleport to them?) It might be easy to see sometimes, but not when the leaves fall, or do some dog walkers not understand about autumn?
Some people are just what I would refer to as ‘mingers’, they do not have a clue how to behave in public.
Then there’s Queen’s resevoir where it is clearly stated that dogs must be on a lead at ALL times. But there is no-one to enforce it so the dog owners don’t really care.
Frankly I don’t care if their dog is happy or not, their dog does not pay taxes contributing to the upkeep of such places.
Your dog, YOUR responsibility (and that includes clearing away it’s faeces). If you don’t like the task then don’t get a dog. Simples!
For the responsible dog owners out there that behave responsibly and respect the rights of us non dog-owners, thank you… please try and use your shared bond of owning a dog to encourage others to do the same.
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Some responsible owners pick up the dog droppings in a bag and leave it in a place where it will be clearly visible to them on their way back.
This leaves them to enjoy the walk without a bag of dog poo in their hand and they pick it up and bin it on the way back.
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“This leaves them to enjoy the walk without a bag of dog poo in their hand and they pick it up and bin it on the way back.”
Shame so many are forgetful. Pip!
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@ Leah Holmes #1
“…Then there’s Queen’s resevoir where it is clearly stated that dogs must be on a lead at ALL times. But there is no-one to enforce it so the dog owners don’t really care…”
Isn’t the resevoir owned by Jersey Water? If it’s private property the only way enforce this rule would be to take the dog owner to court surely??
Personally I just can’t see the point of having a dog(working dogs aside) and I find the practice of nagging up waste to leave for somebody else to ‘enjoy’ disgusting.
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I cannot remember if Jersey has the red dog poo bins like we have where I live now in the UK.If not then perhaps they would be a good idea.I live in a rural county now where just about everyone has a dog yet I have rarely seen any dog mess as the vast majority of owners use these doggy bins.
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FACT !
All dog owners should pick up after their dogs, .
But just a reply to some comments on here, from I think a responsible dog owner.
Leah Holmes # 1 Ever heard of a “dog licence” its a tax we dog owners pay for the privilege of keeping a dog. As far as I know we get very little in return.
Pip #2 Yes, That’s what I do.
An alterative is to not feed the dog, it stops them defecating, sad thing is they tend to die and need constant replacement if you don’t feed them, probably better to be complaining about poo than dead dogs all over the place.
C Le Verdic #3 I don’t remember ever forgetting, but I am human (well I think so anyway).
J Lamborrari#4 There are bad and good owners just as there are bad and good drivers, don’t tar them all with the same brush.
I personally cant understand anyone “not” wanting a dog, they are well named “mans best friend”.
I bet my dog is less eco unfriendly than any motor car.
Have you ever tried owning one ?
JULIE #5 Jersey has black dog poo bins (supposedly strategically placed)Perhaps our licence fees should be used to supply a few more ? Or how about a dog park, or at least a couple of beaches where dogs are allowed all year, maybe in exchange for a complete dog ban on other beaches ?.
“If” (I am not advocating this) dog poo is left on a beach at least the tide washes it away twice a day. I believe the crabs eat it but can not verify that and would welcome some fact if anyone knows.
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@PJG #6
“…Pip #2 Yes, That’s what I do. An alterative is to not feed the dog…”
Or just carry your waste with you?
“…don’t tar them all with the same brush… …Have you ever tried owning one?…”
I don’t think I’ve tarred anybody??
Personally I haven’t owned a pet, but when I was younger my family had many animals over the years, so my opinion is based on experience.
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J Lamborrari#7
I don’t think I’ve tarred anybody??
J Lamborrari#4
“so the dog owners don’t really care”
Some of us do !
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dog poo … I believe the crabs eat it but can not verify that and would welcome some fact if anyone knows.
Careful, PJG this suggestion could destroy the edible crab industry!!!
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@ PJG #8
Are you really trying to prove a point by making up false quotes,or are you just mistaken?
You may collect your bags of dog waste at the end of your walk, but many don’t, and why should I have to walk past your bags of waste on my walk anyway? Just take it with you.
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J Lamborrari#10
Sorry ! yes, I was mistaken, just noticed you were quoting Leah #1, I missed the ” – ”
My brother in law used to be the same as you, just could not understand all this love wasted on animals. He bought a dog for his daughter and ended up being the one taking it for walks etc, they are now inseparable, travel all over Europe, the dog has done wonders for his stress levels.
The family pet when one is juvenile ( I may be wrong in this interpretation of your “younger” ) IMO is not really owning and being responsible for it. You really should try owning and bonding with an animal, IMO you are missing a wonderful thing.
Back to the thread,
I agree, those that do not retrieve their bags are liable for and should be prosecuted.
BUT until the law changes I will carry on picking up after my dog, putting it in a bag, temporarily placing it somewhere hopefully not too intrusive and collecting it on my return to be disposed of properly. IMO this is not against the law and is responsible dog owning and to be honest, if you find it distasteful having to walk by my bag “tough” you need to be more tolerant of others.
Rozel Aubin #9
If this does happen ? at least its processed naturally. Same as putting horse manure on your rhubarb. (although my kids do say they prefer custard).
Finally, I really do think that dogs being allowed on a few beaches 12 months of the year would help the situation, they could then be banned altogether from the reservoirs. Not the ST Brelades bays but some of the less used beaches but where its easy to see who does not pick up. The responsible owners are the best police for the job of bringing the irresponsible to heel, If I ever see someone not picking up I usually offer them one of my spare bags, their expressions are an eye opener.
Then if it does becomes necessary for the Police (Honorary or SOJ)to become involved one of them could efficiently police a whole beach from one area, not like where a dog can run around the corner drop one unseen.
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From memory, the law on clearing up dog faeces in Jersey only applies to parks, roads and beaches. Therefore if people leave their dog’s faeces on land owned by the Jersey New Waterworks Company – as discused by Leah Holmes – there is sadly probably no offence revealed.
In the U.K. the 2005 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, enabled local authorites to introduce Bye Laws, to try and combat the problem of people failing to clear up their dog’s excrement on any land to which the public has access.
The law on clearing dog faeces in Jersey needs to be revised and more effort needs to be made by the parish authorities and States to combat this anti social behaviour.
Dog faeces has the potential to cause Toxocara canis, which has been known to cause children to go blind.
I imagine if there was a Freedom of Information Act in Jersey, an enquiry would reveal that there hasn’t been any prosecutions against people for failing to clear up dog faeces. It is also doubtful that any case has resulted in a Parish Hall Enquiry. The authorites in the Island just don’t seem to be interested.
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@ Blue Knight #12
“…Therefore if people leave their dog’s faeces on land owned by the Jersey New Waterworks Company – as discused by Leah Holmes – there is sadly probably no offence revealed…”
I guess it would be for the landowner to take the offender to the Royal Court for trespass. Seems an awful hassle, shame people can’t just show more courtesy on other people’s property.
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