Guilty as charged.
Blackbird has posted a comment about Dog Excrement and having ranted, I thought I should link it in here. I agree with much of what Carrie says, indeed there is waste all around us, I suppose the thing that drives me potty is that I am trying to do my best for the environment, and I KNOW I can do better, but how can one respect the world we live in and not respect the people we share it with? Too often we live in our own little bubbles and rant and rave, or disregard people's privacy or freedom (in this case to walk to their own front door without having to traipse through dog sh&t), yet we don't respect each other.
I lost all respect for animal rights activists when I was in Cambridge. They blew up Edinburgh woollen mill, boots and a leather shop. Above these properties was student accommodation - the students *happened* to be out at a party.
There is a new building being put up in Oxford and people who are not involved with it are having their property sabotaged because they worked in a nearby department.
The problem is that we all have our wishes and wants, our desires and campaigns, yet we cannot respect each other or help each other have a better understanding of the world around us.
I am not an eco warrior, but I do want to look after my planet and I want people around me to look after it. I am however a people warrior, I want people to respect each other, and I am a community warrior - I think with community, care and compassion the world can be a better place. I also know that I don't fit.
I don't want to spend my time using cleaning products throughout my boat because I have trampled through dog Sh*te. Nor do I want to use electricity to have to see where it is. Nor do I want to spend precious time clearing up after dogs mess that should have been cleared up by their owners. This time of mine can be spent in a better way.
So - did I rant - yes, but I think that I have something to rant about, my time is precious. If I wanted to clear up after other people I would. Indeed, if there was a map indicating where all the dog sh&t was along the path I would go during daylight hours and clear it up so that I didn't have to clean my boat up with cleaning materials that poison the environment, but I would rather be thinking about how I can make this world a better place and doing something about it. It is bad enough clearing up after ourselves without having to clear up after other people.
I lost all respect for animal rights activists when I was in Cambridge. They blew up Edinburgh woollen mill, boots and a leather shop. Above these properties was student accommodation - the students *happened* to be out at a party.
There is a new building being put up in Oxford and people who are not involved with it are having their property sabotaged because they worked in a nearby department.
The problem is that we all have our wishes and wants, our desires and campaigns, yet we cannot respect each other or help each other have a better understanding of the world around us.
I am not an eco warrior, but I do want to look after my planet and I want people around me to look after it. I am however a people warrior, I want people to respect each other, and I am a community warrior - I think with community, care and compassion the world can be a better place. I also know that I don't fit.
I don't want to spend my time using cleaning products throughout my boat because I have trampled through dog Sh*te. Nor do I want to use electricity to have to see where it is. Nor do I want to spend precious time clearing up after dogs mess that should have been cleared up by their owners. This time of mine can be spent in a better way.
So - did I rant - yes, but I think that I have something to rant about, my time is precious. If I wanted to clear up after other people I would. Indeed, if there was a map indicating where all the dog sh&t was along the path I would go during daylight hours and clear it up so that I didn't have to clean my boat up with cleaning materials that poison the environment, but I would rather be thinking about how I can make this world a better place and doing something about it. It is bad enough clearing up after ourselves without having to clear up after other people.
posted by MortimerBones at
7:57 PM
12 Comments:
it is the little things that annoy i agree,and treading in it and then having to spend time wiping it off your shoe or worse still having to clean your carpets and floor is annoying,and thoughtless,i agree but,foxes badgers and other wild animals also defecate where they will.I do not believe that the other site was criticizing you merely throwing it open to debate by extending an opposing argument,you do lots to reduce your carbon footprint and impact on the world and your links to green sites are very useful to us wannabe greens.As a dog owner i try to ensure that the poo is either carried away or pushed into a less frequented area or best of all hope that the dog will choose a convenient place to perform i am reluctant to pull it away from where it has chosen on the grounds that i would not like the similar done to me.
To conclude this lengthy comment i find i can agree with you and granny buttons insidently and Maffi that it is bad of dog owners not to clear up after there charges,and causes nuscience to daily life i can can also agree with blackbird on a global scale.In short you are both right. Keep up the good work
I must take greywolf to task about where wild animals defecate. Has greywolf ever seen wild animal faeces on the towpath? Badgers have dedicated communal dung pits which they dig and use until full. Foxes will use mounds or humps. In fact both animals have cleaner toilet habits than a pet dog.
I don't think it is the dog that is to blame but rather irresponsible dog owners. However, I am also quite sure that Dog excrement is rather more potent than other wild animals, this is quite possibly due to diet. It is true however, that many of us get upset about things that directly affect us, but don't get upset about the things we do that directly affect others. Certainly something to think about!
Hi - I'm new to this blog lark so hope this gets to you. I am lucky enough to own a narrowboat with my husband and also with a young dog. I am glad to say both are trained to go in appropriate places. I always have bags with me for the dog as well.
My mother had a problem with a dog owner letting their dog mess outside of her house, her answer was very orignal, I was young at the time and she saved a nappy from me, followed the dog owner to her house, and dump the contents on her path. Point made.
If I find someone leaving a mess on the the towpath by my boat or someone else's, I offer them a bag to pick it up, and point out where the bin is. This generally embrasses them to do it.
I have yet to have abuse shouted at me, but I have only been a dog owner myself for 9 months. Time will tell
Angie P
i think you might find that some wild animals use the tow path as a toilet eg birds, others would not use it because it smells of humans and dogs and is out in the open.Dogs do not use there own den as a toilet either they save that for when they are out ,in the same way the fox that visits our back garden defecates on a rock in the rockerie,and there nocternal visits causes the dogs to bark even if the do not give out their own bark which can be annoying when i need to get some sleep,but i would not have it any other way.It is just a good job that horses do not pull narrow boats and barges these days.Though it would be greener and it is supposed to be very good for the rhubarb.
I have just done a towpath survey and there are 23 dog Sh&ts down my towpath, and you will be pleased to hear Greywolf that there is one horse shit.
I stepped in the horse shit and walked down my boat. Invited a neighbour in and asked them whether my boat smelt strange. they said it did, but it wasn't offensive. I cleared up said pile (which is indeed a pile and quite easy to see in the dark) and walked dog sh&t through. I invited a different neighbour in who required no prompting and started checking his shoes looking embaressed. I walked mud through my boat and invited a friend over who suggested I got the mop out sometime. I asked them whether it was the look or smell that was offensive and they said they could only smell my flowers (which are on the side). there is no bird sh&t or any other sh%t down the towpath otherwise I would have tried that.
P.S. one only gets fined for not clearing up ones dogs leftovers. It is, in short, illegal.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Angie
Most people will tell you that there are only a few who do not clear up after their pets. They are deluding themselves. It is the few who do clear up and seemingly the majotity who dont. Were it the otherway around I would not have twenty+ piles outside my boat when there is a dog poo bin not 5 feet from it.
Yes there are good responsible owners out there but they seem not to be in Thrupp.
GW
Other animals do not tend to crap on the towpath simply because there are humans. No foxes don't go to the toilet in their dens because they lack the manual dexterity to install a flushing system and have no access to a money supply and so would be arrested for shoplifting if they tried to obtain the goods without money. Your arguement is empty.
i think it might be time for a group hug.....
Greywolf,
Just thought I'd bring it to your attention that horses do still pull narrowboats....
There are currently 6 commercial horsedrawn passenger trip boats throughout the country and also the Horseboating Society is a nationally recognised organisation that aims to promote:
# communication and co-operation between persons and organisations with an interest in horseboating;
# responsible operation of horsedrawn craft on inland waterways;
# training of crew and horses to acquire the skills necessary for horseboating;
# maintenance and restoration of the waterway environment to a standard suitable for use by boathorses and horsedrawn craft;
# preservation, restoration and maintenance of the various types of horsedrawn craft;
# education of the public about the history and present use of horsedrawn craft;
# research into the skills, people, horses, boats, structures and equipment involved in horseboating;
# retention of horseboating information in archives.
If you wish to learn more about horseboating and maybe come out and try it, we hold training and familiarisation days - see the HBS website: www.horseboating.org.uk
Maybe you would like to join The Horseboating Society. Anyone can join - previous experience of horseboating is not necessary as training can be given.
You can find out about horseboating activities and get involved as crew members or as photographers or video makers. You can join like-minded people working to ensure that horse-drawn craft and skills remain a part of the waterway landscape. Even if you are not able to take part in activities, your membership helps to ensure the continuation of the Society and the pursuance of its aims.
I agree with bones last comment.I did know that some horse boating did still go on and have read some of the information out there,i think it is great that these skills are not lost as we may need them to some extent in the future,
cheers greywolf
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