LAST week I spent 15 minutes first thing cleaning up dog deposits (owner caught on CCTV) on my way to a meeting.

The next day I counted no less than 12 deposits left by unscrupulous owners.

I used to love walking dogs which I can no longer do – and always picked up. I was inspired to write this poem:

Doggy do’s, doggy dos, everywhere I go,

Lots of little “offerings” sometimes in a row,

They come in many colours and of different size,

But I think the doggy owners all wear a disguise,

It’s called “I will not pick it up – I’ll leave it where it’s lain.

Someone else will pick it up and I won’t get the blame”.

A doggy has to do his thing – that’s what a walk is for,

But that is not a reason to leave it on the floor,

Please pick it up and bag it and put it in the bin,

Leaving it for someone else is sucha naughty sin,

So please when doggy does his “bus” don’t leave it on the ground,

Not really very far away a poo bin can be found,

Please! Please! Bag that doggy do it only takes a sec,

So someone who has stepped in it will not exclaim “Oh heck!”,

Or perhaps clean off the pram wheels – you know what to do,

Always carry little bags – please! Clean up the poo!

The “poo fairy”, I hate to say it, is a complete myth around here! Let’s make it a human reality. Most people I know do clean up but obviously a lot don’t.

Very bad.

D HOLLOWAY

Minster Lovell

Witney