The problem of prodigious amounts of dog faeces along the West Harbour walkway was highlighted when a St Leonards family counted more than 200 deposits during a weekend walk.
St Leonards resident Antonia Wood said her family used the track regularly and she was frustrated by the amount of droppings found along the way.
On Sunday she decided to highlight the problem, literally.
Armed with a can of water-soluble spray paint she took her children along the walkway, painting every deposit they found fluorescent orange.
Miss Wood said they counted a total of 217 piles of dog faeces and there were likely to have been more they had missed.
The spray paint idea came from a desire to raise awareness about the problem with other users of the trail.
‘‘We didn’t want other people to stand in it like we have been, and also for people to see how much there is around and how disgusting it is.’’
She said it was hard not to feel resentful towards dog walkers although she thought it was probably just a few owners.
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said the council had not received any specific complaints about dog faeces on the walkway.
Dog owners were entitled to receive six rolls of compostable bags with their dog’s registration.
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"A Dunedin City Council spokesman said the council had not received any specific complaints about dog faeces on the walkway."
Typically unhelpful response from the DCC. Now that you have been alerted to the problem, DCC, what are you going to do about it?
"Dog owners were entitled to receive six rolls of compostable bags with their dog’s registration."
Firstly, I can tell you the bags aren't practical. We used to tie these compostable bags to the dog lead to ensure we never forgot them, but they just shredded there ... so we had to go and buy plastic ones anyway.
Secondly, to ensure the greatest chance of owners picking up after their dog, the bags should just be sent out with dog registration. The registration fees are definitely high enough to cover the cost.
Thirdly, by the DCC's own admission, "supplies [of the bags] may be limited", so it's possible after making a trek into town there would be none available anyway.
None of this excuses not picking up after your dog, but the DCC's usual glib response and prioritising the environment over practicality doesn't help either.
We have only ever used the DCC bags and find them totally practical and fit for purpose. A roll of bags fits into a small dispenser that can be attached to the dogs lead - no shredding at all. Replacement bags are very cheap when the free ones run out ($1.50 per roll). Never had a problem with not being able to get bags when I needed them. If you want to make sure bags are available before going to town, ring the council. It's not difficult.
As to what can the DCC do about it? In a real time practical sense there is not a lot they can do when you think about it. Education campaigns are probably the only real tool they have unless they get lucky and spot offending when it is actually happening. You would complain if the council hired hundreds of poo rangers just to try and catch offenders red handed.
Even if the DCC is not in a position to take further action, it can at least 'hear' this woman.
"[...] the council had not received any specific complaints about dog faeces on the walkway." This effectively questions the validity of her claim and suggests they have no desire to take further action anyway. Or to paraphrase the DCC here: "You're wrong."
Maybe sending out fit-for-purpose plastic poo-bags to all registered dog owners (and making sure they order sufficient quantities - is it that hard?) wouldn't make a difference, but it appears what they are doing now isn't working either.
In parts of London a 500 pounds fine for this offence is the cost. Why are we so content to let this happen? It is almost as bad recently on the walk beside the stream at Mosgiel. DCC gives registered owners of dogs the 'doo" bags for free. Use them.
As a responsible dog owner this really p****es me off!!
It's not difficult to carry poo bags when walking your dog and pick up their mess.
Do the right thing you absolute tossers.
+1 from me, couldn't have put it better.
When i register my dog next month, it will be for eighth time and in those 8 years I have never been offered free doggie-doo bags, compostable or otherwise from the DCC.
I often take my dog on walks and always carry more than 1 bag. Dog parks in other council districts are usually quite good and have doggie bags dispensers within their dog parks supplied free for dog owners. Dunedin dog parks also have these dispensers, however, in the last 2 or 3 years I have been frequenting 2 parks in the Dunedin area, I have never seen a DCC dispenser with any bags in them, which actually begs the question as to what your dog registration fee includes.
Maybe it would be better if the DCC staff responsible for maintaining bag supplies and inspecting parks and walkways for evidence of fouling, actually got out of their nice warm office and looked around at a few places, rather than waiting for a "specific" complaint that they will no doubt ignore !
Of course responsible dog owners probably out number the DCC staff responsible for this area of expertise, so maybe we should be sending in photos of offenders or phoning in EVERY unlawful doggie doo found ... along with GPS co-ordinates
No you shouldn't have to pick it up but surely instead of complaining about it how about you pick it up, surely it would teach your kids something as well..... unless you are teaching your kids to complain.......
It's the same on the other side of the Harbour and after what I saw last Saturday I thought about reporting also.
Between Bacon St at Broad Bay and the bottom of Beaconsfield Rd - about 1 km there was a pile of dog faeces every few metres. It is disgusting and something must be done about this. Such a shame to muck up such a fantastic amenity for all ages with filth and a health hazard.
It's the same on the other side of the Harbour and after what I saw last Saturday I thought about reporting also.
So why didn't you ?? ... and that question goes to everyone that's complaining about here, but don't have the intestinal fortitude to pick it up in a bag, take it to the DCC and make a specific complaint.
If everyone did, you may find the DCC will do something about it ...
As a frequent user of the walkway/cycle way I can't say I've ever noticed this many doggy dos on my return journey. On the topic, you should see the litter that families leave on our street weekly opposite their children's school on drop off/ pick ups. Wrappers, juice boxes, straws, clothing, unwanted fruit. Instead of whinging we as street residents pick it up and get on with it.
One thing I have noticed as a regular dog walker on Portobello Rd is that the frequency of dog poos reduced when the DCC provided bins at frequent intervals on the pathway. There are still some irresponsible dog owners that don't clear up their dog's mess, but the majority seem to. Not sure if the DCC has provided sufficient bins on the St Leonards side.
I have a dog, and use 2 to 3 bags a day. No problem.
There is already legislation in place enabling $300 fines. It seems to me a part time Poo Patrol Officer, in high-use areas such as this would pay for itself in no time. Like parking fines, once expected, people will behave more appropriately.
217 in 500m, so just under one every 2m, I don't believe that story.
So spraying a whole can of toxic water soluble paint propelled by hydrocarbons is much better than organic poo..
I don't think people realise that the more a nuisance you allow your dog crap behaviour to become, the more likely it is tighter restrictions will be placed on dogs, further taking away the freedoms we currently enjoy in regard to where we can walk our dogs. The minority again let down the majority. Owning a dog comes with a whole host of responsibilities - picking up the poo is one of them, regardless of the bag you use.
For Pete's sake, the DCC bags are perfectly suitable, we've used them every day since they were first available. Can't blame the DCC for every jolly problem surely? Take some responsibility for the mess. Your slack behaviour directly affects the pleasure others take with or without their dogs walking in and around Dunedin.