Just this morning I parked my car at the farm where we keep our horses and stepped into the "silver dollar" the farmers dog had left on the car park. Luckily no one was around to hear my verbal, very un - ladylike reaction to that incidence.

We need to pick up the poos of our dogs because:

They are a threat to our own as well as other peoples dogs. Dog faces may contain worm eggs, worm larvae as well as a number of pathogens which maybe picked up by another dog if he gets into contact with the poo of an infected dog.

Dogs may be carriers of certain diseases without showing the symptoms themselves.

Young puppies, older dogs and those with a compromised immune system are most vulnerable to pick up some illness from their fellow canines.

Leaving dog poo in public places frequented by other dogs is not fair.

Dog poo is a very unappetizing substance at the best of times. Not picking it up means that kids can get in contact with it when playing outside. This may be a serious health hazard to them for the same reasons as those mentioned above.

Many people take their dogs out in the country for a run and a poo, allowing them to litter on fields. Many fields are used by farmers for hay making and thus the poo becomes part of the cows or horses food supply. Farmers get very angry when they witness dogs pooing on their grass because the poo does not dissolve but stays in the hay. The hay is thus spoiled because the dog feces are also a threat to the health of livestock.

When we leave your dog's droppings around we do not only endanger the health of others but we also annoy other people and give rise to more anti dog propaganda as well as stricter legislations in regards to dog keeping.

Being sensible is quite easy: All we need to do is bring a few plastic or, preferably paper poo bags and pick up what our dogs leave behind. Take them home or put them into the dog litter bins many communities have put up for that purpose.

If we just make it one of our Golden Rules of Dog Keeping to pick up our dog's litter we will soon get used to it because it becomes a natural thing to do.

Our dogs are part of the environment and they depend on it just as we do. Our environment needs our protection and picking up our dog's poo is certainly a step in the right direction, don't you agree?