Part of owning a Labrador (or other dog for that matter) is the need to keep it clean - and that goes for the environment it lives in. Dogs are, by nature, scavengers and will eat whatever comes their way (or roll in it!). Labradors, if left unchecked have, as a breed, a tendency to overeat and this can make for some pretty smelly and messy dog poop and they are not the smallest of dogs.

I had the recent misfortune at home where a large dog was being allowed to do its business on my drive. It didn't take many dark nights of me stepping in it when getting out my car and walking it into the house for me to get very angry about it and hell-bent on catching the animal responsible. Judging by the size of the stools, it was a large dog - at least the size of a Labrador. I guessed that the owner was leaving his dog to run free, off the lead and letting the animal go where it felt and then leaving it for someone else to clear up.

Of course, I reported it to the local Council who set up a watch. It took an accidental occasion for me to be working on the drive when the dog came along and did its mess. The owner duly walked past a few moments later - and then stopped when he saw me glowering at him. Of course, he was very apologetic and said something about, 'forgetting his scoop and plastic bag'.

Hmm, just like he'd been doing for the previous four months! His dog was not a Labrador, but an Alsatian. Needless to say he hasn't been seen since. Has he learnt his lesson, or does his dog-walking route just take him elsewhere with the same carefree neglect? If Internet research is to be believed, then over forty percent (40%) of dog owners cannot be bothered with the chore of clearing up after their animal. They consider it is too much hard work. A Council in North Wales recently began a name and shame policy in conjunction with the local newspaper for dog owners not clearing up their dog's mess. Earlier this year a small town in Germany year talked about introducing DNA testing of dog feces to help track and trace the dogs responsible so that dog owners could be brought to book.

It is a social nuisance and a particularly deadly one especially to young children. Dog poop can carry 'Toxocara canis', a parasitic worm found in the intestines of dogs. If humans ingest the larvae of this worm then it can cause blindness in extreme cases. So, what can be done to help this situation? Perhaps the re-introduction of a more stringent dog license in the UK is needed. What about DNA samples of all pups being taken at birth as part of that process - paid for by the owners? If owners are responsible about their dogs and do their research they will see what health issues can be caused by dog mess in their community - including to themselves - if they do not clear up after their dog and do not follow common sense hygiene rules.