korea71

When I was in Paris last year, I noticed quite a lot of dog crap in the streets. I was told that it was normal for dog owners not to pick up after their pets and that the crap was picked up by sanitary workers weekly. ...?

Dudrop

I think Brussells is the worst.For the entire week there last year the sidewalks were no better than an unflushed doggie commode.Perhaps the sanitation workers were on strike?

yevlesh2

That has got to be one of the worst jobs ever!

I saw the same thing 2 month ago in Paris as well.

Human Unit 763246B

The French have lots of dogs. They often don't clean up after the dogs. A few weirdos do.

fastflyer

Cambridge MA is right up there. Governor Weld used to joke that the perception of Cantabridgians as unfriendly really relates to the fact that you cannot take your eyes off the sidewalk in Cambridge lest you get an unpleasant doggie surprise.

Beach towns have this problem in spades. Some dog-owners feel that "doing what comes naturally" is OK on the beach. Good reason not to eat local seafood in some of these seaside communities.

During my PVC days, I would spend 15 minutes every morning cleaning my stretch of beach. And I would warn off at least five owners and their unleashed dogs every day.

Why do people feel it's OK to encourage their dog to do its thing on public property or on a neighbor's property (but never the owner's own property)?

Ginger K

It's actually improved a great deal over the past few years. An ordinance was passed several years ago that allows for fines (imagine!) if one doesn't pick up after one's pet.

chfenton

Here in Buenos Aires-which many call the Paris of the south-it is absolutely ridiculous. It is surely a cultural thing, I know in the states we would never think of it but here, as I suspect in European cities it seems that the residents have been trained to believe it is acceptable and someone else will clean it up- I guess it is acceptable as there is no law against it here.

They love their dogs, most everyone lives in an apartement building, and dogs go outside and use the sidewalk. Later in the day the city street cleaners come by and clean the streets. The worst is Sunday afternoon as the street cleaners don't work on the weekends it really stinks by then.

dctorres

Chalk it up to a cultural difference

There used to be men in a little green suit that had a little cart that vacuumed up the crap.

So, technically, you are allowed to let your dog do his business on the curb. However, some people let their dogs do it on the sidewalk.

Don't get me wrong, this is a touchy subject here. Non-dog owners hate dog owners for that reason

Personally, I always take my dog to a little doggy sandbox or use the curb. Never the sidewalk.

dctorres

11 or 22 euros, I believe. Never heard of anyone receiving a ticket though.

Louie_LI

Acutally, it was raised to 600FF (€90). But can you imagine any cop demeaning himself by writing a ticket for it?

dctorres

No kidding?

I was in Cabourg last weekend and there were posters saying €11 if you don't curb your dog.

Fortunately, they're still in the dark

LHR Tim

Amsterdam has more than it's fair share of dog poop.

ScottC

Don't forget that Paris also "floods" it's streets quite a bit to keep them clean.

It's actually quite normal in Europe to let your dog "release itself" on the street.

You call it "...", I call it cultural differences.

dctorres

Street, yes, but not the sidewalk.

It's a bad habit that people here hate (at least those w/o dogs)

LemonThrower

Agree on teh cultural differences. Sounds like another example of the French making a mess and expecting someone else to clean it up. Yet another reason not to visit France.