Dog dirt digest

Won’t somebody think of the children?

The Bolton News, 5 February 2010 (story):

Dog dirt puts children’s walking bus under threat

A CHILDREN’S walking bus scheme could be axed — because the route they take to school is littered with dog dirt.

Organisers of a group which takes about 20 children to Masefield Primary School are calling for immediate action. [...]

One of the organisers Andrea Brown said: “It’s everywhere. It gets on the children’s shoes and on the bottom of their school trousers.

“If nothing changes, then we will have to stop the walking bus.

“The kids are looking out for it all the time. But they don’t get to see what else is going on around them.

“The whole reason for the walking bus is to get them out and about and enjoying the environment.

“It is just lazy and people shouldn’t have a dog if they aren’t prepared to pick up after them.”

Running the dog dirt gauntlet

In line with regional newspaper tradition, this article sparked fierce debate on the letters pages.

The Bolton News, 11 February 2010:

Sick of dog poo

I LIVE in Sundridge Close and am sick of the sight of dog poo.

There is loads of it and also on our open plan front garden.

I hope patrols are put on here to stop this disgusting mess.

Christine Bessell, Sundridge Close, Bolton

Bolton Evening News, 12 February 2010:

Clean up after walk

I HAVE just got back from dropping off my eldest son at nursery, with my youngsters in the pram.

Somewhere on the five-minute walk I have rolled the pram wheels in dog poo.

I go on the pavements, not on any fields. It has taken me 30 minutes to clean the pram wheels and another 30 minutes to get warm again.

Now to my knowledge (I do not own a dog and if I did I would clean up after it) it takes less than a minute to pick it up and but it in a bag.

You can get between 250 and 300 nappy sacks (which I have been told are nearly the same as the doggie poo bags) for £1.

I’ve had to throw away a pot brush, use bleach and anti-bacteria spray because of you irresponsible dog owners.

M L Crompton, Astley Bridge, Bolton

The dog owners themselves, however, weren’t prepared to let sleeping dogs lie and made sure they hit back with their own assaults on the various health pitfalls on the streets of Bolton.

The Bolton News, 11 February 2010:

What a dirty town it is

AS a responsible dog owner who cleans up, I welcome more being done to curb dog mess.

However, equally offensive to the eyes, are the number of people who think that it is acceptable to spit and empty their noses all over certain areas.

It’s disgusting, and certainly unhygienic. It really needs addressing somehow. And I haven’t even touched on the subject of vomit or chewing gum.

It all makes for a pretty disgusting journey if you’re cycling or on foot.

I am 55 years old and try to cycle for my health. But, that said, if I don’t get killed falling down a pothole or being hit by the crazy, selfish motorists, I risk getting TB or consumption.

But that’s Bolton today, a dirty town — and we expect people to visit!

Steven Corns, Almond Street, Bolton

The Bolton News, 12 February 2010:

Mess left after football

IT’S not just dog owners. I was walking my dog on the lead across the footpath over the playing fields off Longworth Road, Horwich.

On the field, a football match was being played by children. One of the parents said to me ‘you cannot bring dogs on here as we don’t want any mess’. I just kept going to the woods away from the field.

On my return, the match was over and players and watchers gone. You should have seen the mess left by them, just as bad as any dog.

John Byron, Bolton

The Bolton News, 12 February 2010:

What about all the litter?

AS a regular reader of  The Bolton News and a dog owner, I have followed various letters with interest about dog poo and lazy dog owners getting a bad name. But what about drinkers etc in and around Bolton who regularly leave chip cartons, chips, discarded pizzas, curries, empty cans, wrapping paper etc, which litter our town centre and pathways?

It seems people accept this type of filth on our streets as not many letters are sent in about this, and there is never anyone patrolling the streets at night to fine people for discarding the litter.

Surely this is litter is just as bad as dog poo.

Mr Perry, Cambridge Road, Lostock

The overriding message here is that nobody is safe on Bolton’s pavements, whether it’s owing to dog mess, spittle, snot, vomit, chewing gum, potholes, crazy and selfish motorists, TB, chip cartons, chips, discarded pizzas, curries, cans or wrapping paper. Or all of the above. And that’s before you’ve even got out of your front garden.

Thanks to Bolton’s Matt Kilsby Top Boy FFS TBF for frantically rubbing his shoes on some long grass before sending these letters for our delectation.