Responsibility

I’ve been to the supermarket today and, although I don’t have human babies, I purchased something from the baby aisle:

I consider this purchase a badge of honour.  Nappy bags (diaper bags for those of you who live in the USA/Canada) are an excellent tool for picking up dog poo.  I just got 100 bags for only $2.15 (a much better price than purchasing special doggy doo bags from the pet store).

Sadly, I think I am in the minority when it comes to dog owners.  Or, at least that’s the way I feel.  Today, I took Izzy for a walk in a local park after going to the supermarket and I counted 4 piles of poo that owners had not picked up.

One of them was in a field used for cricket on the weekends.

It’s a sign that we have too many irresponsible dog owners in Christchurch.  And in today’s paper – Mike Yardley – a local commentator, agrees.  He laments the pitiful rate of enforcement by our Council and calls upon members of the public to name and shame.

If you see a dog owner blithely pretend their animal hasn’t just crapped all over the footpath – have a crack at them. Shame them into behaviour change, because the council probably won’t police it.

That’s fine – to a point.  When you feel safe to do so.  But we also need greater enforcement so people take dog-owning responsibilities seriously.  And we shouldn’t let the Council, which uses our taxes (rates and dog registration fees) to fund its activities, off the hook when it comes to its responsibility.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand