Dogs Rule » General

Dog waste in normal litter bins – problem?

Matthew Revell — Mon, 01 May 2006 09:23:49 +0000

Dog walkers in the Lancashire town of Barnoldswick are causing concern for other users of a picnic area in the town.

Local resident, Pat Dickins, has complained to her local newspaper that dog walkers are placing dog waste in ordinary, open-topped litter bins:

“It is good that people are using the bins, but from a health point of view, I think it is awful that we have such waste just feet away from seats. People often sit on those benches to eat their fish and chips and we have children playing close by in the beck. Surely we should have a proper dog bin, with a closed lid”, she told her local newspaper.

The area’s local council replied that, because dog mess is classed as litter, the dog walkers were acting legally.

We’ve had a number of dog-mess related stories on Dogs Rule and it’s a problem that has great potential to cause rifts between dog lovers and the unenlightened. In the States they have professional pooper-scooper services, Horsham District Council has considered CCTV to monitor misuse of dog waste bins and San Francisco is generating electricity from dog poo.

How can we deal with the dog waste problem? The situation has improved massively over the years, but a small number of dog owners still cause problems for the responsible majority. Is it the local council’s responsibility to provide special dog bins, or even go as far as Coventry Council once did and provide free dog waste bags?

National Pooper Scoopers week

Matthew Revell — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 20:26:04 +0000

According to the Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists, America is getting close to National Pooper Scoopers week (starts April 24).

This story is surprising for two reasons:

there are people whose business is to look after your dog’s business
there is a trade body for professional dog poo cleaners.

Now, I hate cleaning up dog mess. With four mutts though, it’s pretty much a never-ending feature of my life. If I were feeling flush, and a professional pooper scooper service operated near Wolverhampton, then I’d consider using it. Unfortunately, the APAWS seems to be USA and Canada-only.

Fill out our quick dog food survey

Matthew Revell — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 19:11:40 +0000

Do you get tired of lugging around tins and sacks of heavy dog food? Or do you find the range at your local supermarket convenient but the range too limited?

We want to help make it easier to buy dog food. Fill out our short dog food survey and we’ll share the results with you on this blog in a few weeks.

http://www.dogsrule.co.uk/survey/

Kennels lead to vet bills

Matthew Revell — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 21:46:18 +0000

A report from the insurance company, Direct Line, suggests that some boarding kennels are leaving dog owners with steep vet’s bills.

According to Direct Line’s study, 12% of dogs who have stayed in a kennel contracted an illness as a result; 4% sustained an injury.

Direct Line’s full report is available on their website.

Nightlife for dogs – SkyBark

Matthew Revell — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 10:49:50 +0000

The USA and Australia really do seem to have the best when it comes to dogs. Here in the UK, we seem a touch behind; let’s see if we can change that!

In the past, we’ve bemoaned the lack of dog-friendly venues for British dog owners. The excellent DoggiePubs is filled with details of dog-friendly pubs but, last time I looked, there’s no mention of a stylish city-centre bar that welcomes dogs.

SkyBark is a new event in Los Angeles that brings art, music and dogs together! Held in downtown LA’s Hanger 1018 gallery/bar, on March 25, the night will feature a canine couture show, pet art and photography and, importantly, the opportunity to adopt dogs in need of a home.

While many British pubs welcome your mutt with a bowl of water, SkyBark’s got something a bit more special planned. Treats and cocktails, created specially for the event, will be available for all the dogs in attendance, as well as the occassional something for their owners. There’ll be plenty to keep the mutts busy, with play areas for each size of dog and canine toilets courtesy of the night’s organiser, PetaPotty.

To book your ticket – $20 – visit www.skybark.com.

Everyday dog massage

Matthew Revell — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 21:50:05 +0000

by J

Littlest Hobo theme tune

Matthew Revell — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 16:03:20 +0000

“Every step I make, I make a new friend” just about sums up the wonder of dogs.

It’s been a while since London – the Alsatian protagonist of 70s/80s Canadian children’s tv show The Littlest Hobo – has been on UK tv screens. If you love the show’s theme tune, Maybe Tomorrow, you’re in luck thanks to the internet!

The original song’s singer – Terry Bush – has recently released a re-recording as part of an album of “adult contemporary with a country flavour” songs. You can buy it for �17 from Terry’s website – www.thelittlesthobo.com.

UK readers will remember NatWest’s advert, a few years ago, featuring an cartoon Jack Russell on a worldwide adventure. The ad used a faithful cover of the song by pop group Scooch. A quick web search reveals that an Oxford-based group of DJs have their own version of the Littlest Hobo theme on their website, which sounds very much like the Scooch version.

The most interesting version, though, is the Spanish version of the Littlest Hobo theme.

“Una voz me llama cada vez…”

Dog brightens Bradford office

Matthew Revell — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:04:48 +0000

Rupert, a nine month old Cocker Spaniel, has had a surprising effect on a Bradford recruitment company’s office.

Introduced to the office Steven Street, Managing Director of Relay Recruitment, Rupert has helped the company’s smokers kick their habit.

David Gatehouse, also of Relay Recruitment, explained to the BBC:

“We thought we’d bring in a dog so people could make a fuss over him and it would lift morale, especially during the depressing days after Christmas and New Year.

“Then somebody suggested instead of having a fag break they’d take him for a 10-minute walk round the block.

“The idea caught on and now four or five people have given up smoking altogether and others are cutting down.

“They’re also losing weight because of all the exercise they’re getting.”

Rupert has been so popular that the company plans to introduce dogs to its other offices.

Dogs will be shot in Lake District

Matthew Revell — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:00:31 +0000

The Lake District National Park Authority is warning that dogs off leads will be shot if they worry livestock.

Peter Thompson, an Ambleside farmer, told BBC News:

“About 70% of people act responsibly and have control over their pets, for which we are very grateful, but the other 30 per cent are behaving ever more irresponsibly.

“There have already been a number of serious sheep worrying cases this year, resulting in dogs being shot.”

Between 1 March and 31 July all dogs must be kept on a two meter lead when near livestock and on private land accessed through rambling rights.

Dog poo powers San Francisco

Matthew Revell — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 06:09:00 +0000

As one of America’s greener cities, San Francisco recycles around 60% of its waste.

However, recycling the city’s 6,500 tonnes of animal excrement each year has proven somewhat difficult, until now. Rubbish company, Norcal Waste, has opened a new facility that will turn dog poo into natural gas.

Norcal plans to feed its $1 million methane digster with waste from one of San Francisco’s dog parks. Over a period of weeks, the feces will be broken down by bacteria, resulting in methane gas. The gas can then be used for heating, electricity generation and, perhaps less acceptably, cooking.

With underground gas reserves quickly running out, it’s about time all animal waste was turned into useful energy.