Dog poo debate erupts in affluent Sydney suburb

A huge debate has kicked off over a dog poo act that some claim is “disrespectful” and others believe is fine.

An anonymous woman has taken to Facebook to complain about people putting their dog’s poo in her bin and, immediately, things have descended into chaos.

It seems like there is nothing quite like a dog poo debate to fire up residents in Sydney’s ritzy North Shore.

The North Shore area is known for being expensive. The median house price is over $2 million and there are lots of wide open spaces, which makes it ideal for dog owners.

It is a place filled with dogs – especially designer ones. Think any kind of poodle mix.

Usually, when a dog poo debate kicks off, it is because someone isn’t picking up their dog’s poo, but this debate is about the very big social question: Can you put your dog’s poo in a random’s bin?

In true, “I’m about to say something controversial” fashion, a mum posted anonymously about her gripe with local dog owners.

“Am I being ridiculous for getting annoyed that people put dog poo in our bin just as it has been emptied on bin day and it is out the front?” she asked.

The post kicked off a big debate. Picture: Facebook

The anonymous woman went on to explain that she flushes her baby’s poo down the toilet to avoid a “horrific smell” coming from her bin.

“I appreciate they’re picking up after their dogs but it is happening every other week. Just want to see if I’m the problem? Also we live near many walkways and public parks.”

The post amassed over 60 comments and no one could agree on what is the correct pooch protocol. Some dog owners were defensive, some mum’s were fed-up and it seems everyone had an opinion.

Someone suggested she put a “laminated note” on her bin to ward dog owners off using it as a place to ditch their dog’s poop.

Another neighbour shared that the act doesn’t “worry” her because she figures it is better for someone to use her bin than not pick up after their dog.

One person simply replied, “It is a bin.”

The anonymous poster acknowledged the direct comment and said she wasn’t “nasty” in her post, basically implying there was no need to be so direct.

However, the commentator didn’t back down and said, “I wasn’t nasty in my reply. It is a bin; bins are for rubbish and waste”.

Someone else said she was “brave” putting it on Facebook because her mum complained about the same thing she got “roasted”.

The anonymous poster said it was happening so often and that she “wouldn’t care” if it was an irregular occurrence, but she was finding the frequency of the poo dropping “annoying”.

The post has amassed over 60 comments. Picture: iStock

The anon complainer explained the act was ‘annoying’. Picture: iStock

There were a ton of people arguing that poo in someone’s bin is better than being left on the footpath for some unsuspecting victim to walk in.

“Better in the bin than the footpath,” one person commented.

“It doesn’t bother me as it is just a bin,” someone else said.

“I actually don’t mind. I have liked it less when people have left their dog’s poo on my grass,” another wrote.

One woman broke her silence though, and said she finds the bin act straight-up “disrespectful” and something she’s also had to deal with.

“I find it disrespectful to expect other people you don’t know to take your rubbish for you including bags of poo. I try and bring in my bin as soon as I can after it has been emptied. There’s not much you can do, unfortunately,” she said.

Someone agreed and said she lives by the mantra, “My rubbish my responsibility”.

Another commenter replied and said they “can’t stand” when people dump dog poo in their bin, with another declaring that putting poo in someone else’s bin was a “definite no”.

This isn’t the first time a dog poo debate has divided Sydneysiders.

In 2022, an angry inner-city resident decided to leave a note for “inconsiderate” dog owners after discovering someone had dumped dog poo in an empty bin.

A photo showed the note taped to the offending rubbish.

“Dog owners. Please do not put dog poo in resident’s empty bins,” the note read.

“It is very inconsiderate and who wants a bin smelling of dog s**t?! Put is elsewhere!!!”

Online, the note sparked a heated debate among dog owners.

Some said they would rather it was put in an empty bin than left on the pavement, with others claiming bins were fair game.

However, some pet owners agreed with the note writer, claiming that disposing of your pet’s waste responsibility was part of being a dog owner.