A woman was left furious after she had to clean up after other dogs at Plymbridge Woods in Plympton.

Louise, a local resident, picked up three discarded bags of dog mess along with another 15 other piles of dog poo which had not been bagged up and just left on the path.

Owners who are caught not picking up after their dogs will be handed a fixed penalty notice for £100 by council enforcement officers, which if not paid, could end with a criminal conviction.

But despite the fines, owners are still leaving dog poo in popular areas.

Louise said: "I can't believe people. Why have a dog if your not going to pick up after it. Or even worse why pick it up if your just going to throw it on the ground.

"I walked one path at Plymbridge this afternoon, picked up three bags off the ground and the rest was poo on the path. Each bag has at least three poos in.

"Clean up after your dogs people. You can buy 100 nappy sacks for 12p from Morrisons, it won't break the bank."

Last year there was an incident where a "horrified" dog walker warned others after her dogs ate human poo during a walk through Plymbridge Woods.

The shocked owner was walking her two dogs on Saturday evening when she came across the "gross" discovery, which left her rushing home to "brush her dogs teeth".

A spokesperson for the council said: “We all hate dog poo and the council receive a number of complaints each week about it on streets and in parks.

“Often, when people decide they’re not going to pick up after their dogs, they tend to have a quick look around, check there’s not an enforcement officer around, and then walk on. With plain clothes patrols, we hope to add a substantial deterrent to these type of offenders.”

You can report dog-related incidents to Plymouth City Council, here.

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What to do if my dog eats something it shouldn't?

Information from Wag Walking states: "Human faeces can be home to very harmful strains of bacteria as well as residual traces of drugs and foods that may prove dangerous to dogs if eaten in sufficient quantities.

"If you suspect that your dog has become ill as a result of eating human feces, it may be wise to seek veterinary help if the symptoms persist.

"Has My Dog Eaten Human Poop? The vast majority of dogs that ingest human feces will suffer no side effects and will be able to digest it just as they would normal food.

"However, a small minority will experience a mild case of stomach upset due to bacteria contained within the feces, resulting in symptoms such as a decreased appetite, stomach pain, and eventual vomiting.

"Note that it can take up to several hours for the symptoms to become apparent, so it is wise to move the dog to a location where they will not be at risk of making a mess. More serious cases of poisoning, however, will involve longer-term stomach problems and diarrhea, which can result in dehydration if the dog is not made to drink.

"Additionally, toxins within the feces due to things such as drugs (medical or otherwise) can seriously harm the dog and cause organ damage, usually starting with the liver.

"This can lead to the dog suffering increased vomiting and becoming somewhat uncoordinated and lethargic in their behavior. When you take the animal to a vet, they will usually be able to diagnose the dog’s problem by performing tests on blood and fecal samples, as well as by getting information regarding the diet and health of the person whose feces was eaten, if known.

"This will help narrow down the cause of the problem and allow treatment to begin. You should be aware that dogs will consciously eat feces of many animals (an act known as ‘coprophagia’ ) in order to absorb any leftover nutrients, which can indicate a dietary deficiency of some sort.

"For more information about cases of poisoning and how they typically present themselves, take a look at our condition guide, Ingestion of Feces and Foreign Objects in Dogs."

Signs of poisoning

Signs of poisoning can include one, or several of the following:

  • Vomiting.
  • Depressed or sleepy behaviour.
  • Appearing drunk and uncoordinated.
  • Seizures.
  • Difficulty breathing.

What to do if you think your dog's been poisoned

  • Stay calm. Remove dogs from the source of poison.
  • Contact your vet immediately; inform them when, where and how poisoning occurred. If appropriate, take the packaging, plant or substance to the vet. Don’t expose yourself to any harm.
  • Follow your vet’s advice.
  • Keep dogs away from other animals to avoid cross-contamination.

What not to do if you think your dog's been poisoned

  • Never attempt to treat/medicate dogs yourself.
  • Don't give products that aren't for your dog. Some medicines for humans and other animals may be poisonous to dogs.
  • Never attempt to make dogs vomit.
  • Do not use salt water as it’s extremely dangerous.

Preventing poisoning in dogs

In the home:

  • Keep an eye on your dog.
  • Keep house-plants where dogs cannot reach them. Collect dropped leaves/petals.
  • Keep pesticides, e.g. rat baits, away from areas dogs can access.

Outside the home:

  • Ensure housing and exercise areas are free from, and not overhung by, poisonous plants.
  • Ensure dogs water supplies cannot become contaminated, and change regularly.

If you suspect that an animal has been poisoned it is advised that you should take it to a vet immediately. If it is possible, you should take a sample of what the cat has eaten/drunk, or the container.