Dog Mess!

posted by Steven on 09 Jan 2012 at 2:49 pm

We have recently moved to this lovely town and really enjoy living by the sea but we are appalled at the amount of dog mess littering the Bexhill pavements which seems to be so much worse than where we previously lived.
We have a small grass verge on the pavement outside our house and everyday we have to side-step around another fresh mound that some lazy dog owner has failed to clear up.
We are dog-owners ourselves and cannot understand why people would not clear up after their dogs - after all, would they leave a childs soiled nappy in the street?
It also amazes me that some dog owners will go to the trouble of picking up their dog mess but then leave the bag hanging on the fence - unbelievable....!
On a short 5 minute walk from our house to the sea front, I counted at least 20 different piles of dog poo - absolutely disgusting. There is often dog poo along the promenade and i am sure that locals and visitors alike are disgusted by the this - I would even go so far as to say that it could put much needed tourists off visiting Bexhill (I find hastings and St Leonards also suffer from the same problem...)
I am not sure what the answer is, I have never 'caught' someone leaving the dog mess behind but i would absolutely confront them if i did, I would think a dog warden would not be able to provide sufficient coverage. Heavy 'On the spot' fines would help but again the owners would have to be caught in the act - does anyone have any suggestions on what could be done? perhaps some type of neighbourhood 'poo' watch with a number to dial to report offenders? Anyone else have any ideas to stop this problem blighting the Bexhill streets?

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Dogs Mess

posted by Kate on 11 Jan 2012 at 1:51 pm

Steven - how glad I was to read someone with the same concerns as I have over the dogs mess problem in Bexhill. I too have children and am a dog owner and cannot understand how all these people dont clean up after their own pets. If you cant clean up after your dog - you shouldnt be allowed one. I agree that it ruins walks in Bexhill when you have to keep an eye out at all times that you dont tread in something nasty.Perhaps heavier fines would work? Either way something really does need to be done about it. Do people need to be educated about the germs and side effects that dogs mess can carry? any other ideas?

Plenty Of Dog Litter Bins

posted by Caroline on 14 Jan 2012 at 4:34 pm

I walk down Linden Road, Bexhill on my way to work and have noticed there has been dog mess on the pavement on both sides of the road this week.

Yesterday, I noticed dog mess on the new lawn in front of the De La Warr Pavilion.

There's no excuse for dog owners not to carry a few small bags in their pocket at all times and pick up their dogs' mess.

There are plenty of dog litter bins available along the seafront - the number of which have increased since the Next Wave development.

Maybe CCTV cameras need to be installed in the side streets and more along the seafront, plus a heavier fine introduced.

I noticed that some poor unfortunate soul had stepped in one of the piles of dog mess along Linden Road ~ I only hope it is one of the negligent dog owners who step in it in the dark next time!

Dog Mess-inconsiderate Owners!

posted by Jill on 20 Jan 2012 at 8:00 am

I totally agree with both sets of comments and am amazed that I have witnessed all ages of owners leaving pressies on the pavement.
I always have extra bags on me and have approached people when I've seen them not pick up...surprisingly this hasn't been met with a great deal of thanks!
Little signs on lamp posts threatening fines are not deterring the owners, the cost of that surely could be put to better use in some kind of policing system.
My dog loves a lot of exercise, so she mostly gets taken on long walks through fields, however I tend to street walk her in the evenings and never know what I'm treading in....the area I live in has no poo bins, which I also think ridiculous, so I would like to see a few more put in place.
Proper policing I think is the only way to stop this.