Origin of the Poop Eating Little Girl

Recognize this little girl?

Here's the answer to the mystery of the poop-eating girl in the ad/poster that stirred up so much controversy in Bristol.  The image was used in other towns before it became as well known, and may be used again, but as I (and another blogger whose post was cited first for this) wondered, did this little girl's parents know she was modeling for eating poop?    The home insurance commercial below from Sainsbury's Bank answered my question.  Here's the little girl in a much happier, poop-free scenario.  It looks so much like her, it has to be the same little girl.  I still wonder if the parents signed off on this or if some modeling agency made the decision.  She seems to be doing the same pose with some brown substance on her hands and face - I wonder what it's supposed to mean in the bank commercial. Here is the image that we recognize her from:

The BBC coverage of the controversy:

And the Sainsbury Bank commercial:

June 29, 2013

Here's a pic I got before going on vacation of a turd outside our building.  It was probably liquid when it first came out, but now it seems to have solidified.  I'm not 100% sure, because I didn't touch it.

This turd was probably once liquid.  Taken June 29, 2013

June 28, 2013

Well, I am on vacation for two weeks and having a hard time keeping up with the posts.  I've found a few turds down here at the Jersey Shore, but I'm using the neighbor's wireless signal to get on the internet and it's not very fast or reliable.  Doo-doo never takes a vacation!  

A small, hairy turd.  Taken June 28, 2013

The doo-doo plant.  I wonder if that leaf is dying because it's touching the poop.  Taken June 28, 2013

I thought this woman might be responsible for the poops outside my local Starbucks, as this is right down the street from it.  Taken June 28, 2013

She cleaned up after her dog, and had white bags (as opposed to the black and blue ones littering the area).  Taken June 28, 2013

Here's the blue bagged doo-doo, possibly after being run over by a street sweeper.   Taken June 28, 2013

The rain has washed some of this one away.  Taken June 28, 2013

Outside the doo-doo house.  I scared all the flies away before I could get the shot.  Taken June 28, 2013

No Dogs in Cambridge, MA

Here's one answer to dogs fouling athletic fields: no dogs at all.  At a baseball field in Cambridge, MA this is the case.

A sign in Cambridge, MA.  Taken June 28, 2013

GeoVation Challenge winners

GeoVation is an organization in the United Kingdom

Here's another story about harvesting methane from dog doo-doo for energy.  An organization in the UK has a contest, the GeoVation Challenge, and awards £100,000 to divide among ideas that will improve British businesses as well as help the environment.  They've announced the winners, and among them is a dog mess to methane

GeoVation is an interesting idea itself, from their about page: "GeoVation is about helping communities address their unmet needs through the application of geographic data, skills and expertise."  I'm thinking more and more about this methane harvesting thing myself, and I wonder if there's an organization similar in the US.


http://www.geovation.org.uk/geovation-winners-to-help-save-the-environment/

June 26, 2013

It's another hot one today, so we took our walk at around 8:30am to beat the heat.  I could still smell the turds as we were walking, and there was one I had to abandon looking for because the owner of the house was going to work.  I've been using a new strategy lately, and that is taking pictures of the old poops along the way, just in case.  I apologize for the repeats, but they testify to the fact that these things are staying out there for days and sometimes weeks at a time.  

Still outside Starbucks.  Taken June 26, 2013

This bagged turd is still there.  Taken June 26, 2013

Here's a new one with all the shades of the poop rainbow.  Taken June 26, 2013

June 25, 2013: twitter contribution

Here's a submission from twitter of a waste bin in Stone, Staffordshire, UK.  The original poster of this picture believes the Scoop It Up campaign, a collaboration by Keep Britain Tidy, The Big Scoop, and Dogs Trust (I hope I haven't left any out), is successful but that larger bins are needed.  At least people are TRYING to follow the rules.

A full bin in Stone, Staffordshire, UK.  From twitter

June 25, 2013

Today we took our walk late, and the only picture I got of actual poop is an old one.  But as we were leaving the local grocery store I noticed a dog on a leash squatting in the parking lot.  The owner didn't seem to pick anything up so I went over to sneakily try and see the poop.  I used the amazing sky as an excuse to go over there with my camera, and didn't find any poop.  The dog must've been female and only peed.  But the sky was actually very pretty.  

The doo-doo bush.  Taken June 25, 2013

I usually see dragons when I look for shapes in the clouds, and this is no exception.  Taken June 25, 2013

June 24, 2013

It's pretty hot here in Massachusetts today, but we went for a walk anyway.  I saw some old turds and two responsible dog owners who cleaned up after their dogs.  One pic is of the remnants of one of those poops, because even when you clean up something is still left behind.

This one is a repeat.  Taken June 24, 2013

The poop is very small in this pic, but I wanted to capture as much of the setting as I could.  This is my local Starbucks, and I'm starting to wonder if people let their dogs poop there on purpose.  Taken June 24, 2013

What was left after the owner of a golden retriever picked up its poop.  Something is always left behind, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't remove as much as we can!  Taken June 24, 2013

Another repeat, this one has been there for ages now.  Taken June 24, 2013

Upset Austin woman throws dog poop at man

Here's a story from Austin, Texas.  A 46 year-old woman has several charges against her when she reportedly threw feces and a rock at a man and spat on him when he wouldn't clean up after his dog in their apartment complex's dog park.  She also allegedly confronted a man whose dog wasn't on a leash, grabbed the unused leash from the owner's hand and pulled it toward herself.  The dog owner claims the leash cut his hand.

This is clearly not the way to convince irresponsible dog owners to clean up after their dogs, but they charged her with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon?  That seems a bit extreme.

Here's another link to the story: http://www.click2houston.com/news/police-upset-austin-woman-throws-dog-poop-at-man/-/1735978/20661256/-/te83v1/-/index.html

John Waters' Pink Flamingos

WARNING: This is extremely gross.  A coworker couldn't believe that I hadn't seen or even heard of this film, especially given this dog doo-doo project.  The film is called Pink Flamingos, by John Waters, and the story is that this scene was improvised.  I tried reading the wiki plot summary, but my head started to hurt by the second paragraph.  It sounds interesting, and I might have to see it because there can't be anything worse that happens in the film, can there?  I have a pretty strong stomach, but this scene gave me pause.

June 23, 2013

Today I saw the same poops as yesterday, along with this one that seems to have been run over.  I didn't photograph the old ones because nothing really changed with them.

When I wasn't sure if this was poop, my wife suggested I poke it with a stick to find out.  I declined.  Taken June 22, 2013

June 22, 2013

I must say, I didn't have high expectations when we set out for a walk this afternoon.  In the past when I've been visiting my parents I haven't found any poop along the way.  Today was different, however, as I found three poops on two separate walks.  It is a summer community, so if there's going to be poop now is the time.

This one is hard to see in the picture, and hard to see in person.  If it hadn't been for the flies and the smell I probably wouldn't have seen it.  It's been run over by a car, too.  Taken June 22, 2013

Taken June 22, 2013

This turd is in the yard of a neighbor who has a child about 2 months older than mine.  They are either renting out their house or letting friends use it, but I'm sure the occupants wouldn't want this here even if they don't have children.  Taken June 22, 2013

June 21, 2013

Today might be the first time I've noticed a bag of poop by the smell alone, and I still don't understand why someone would bag their poop and not throw it away.  I think the gross part is feeling it through the plastic; once it's bagged you don't have to think about it anymore.  So why leave it on the side of the road?

This was part of the poop in the next picture, but they were too spread out for one picture to do them justice.  Taken June 21, 2013

The rest of the above poop.  Taken June 21, 2013

Here's the bagged poop that I could smell, and it had several flies around it.  This is the wall outside my local Starbucks, where people seem to bring their dogs to poop.  Taken June 21, 2013

Another bagged poop that wasn't thrown away properly.  Taken June 21, 2013

This one is a little hairy.  Taken June 21, 2013

At "El Dorado," it's the first poop I've seen there in a while.  Taken June 21, 2013

June 20, 2013

The turds are accumulating outside the Jack Russell's house.  Taken June 20, 2013

Some old poops by the side of the road.  Taken June 20, 2013

This is my phone's zoom at maximum.  This house had several homemade "Keep Dogs off the Grass" signs, but I'll have to go back with the DSLR to get better pictures.  This sign says "No Pooping Zone."  Taken June 20, 2013

BBC clip: Controversy over chocolate "dog poo" poster

Gosh, this poster really is causing a stir!  Here's a news clip from the BBC covering the controversy.  I like how tastefully they cover the story - they won't show the turd from the poster.

June 19, 2013

My phone hasn't been connecting to the computer for the last few days, but today it inexplicably started working again.  This and tomorrow's posts are a bit late, I apologize.  I'm sorry to have kept everyone waiting for the fresh poop pics.

Outside the doo-doo house.  I wouldn't have known this was dog poop if it hadn't been for the flies and the smell.  It's been run over by a car, and it seems like lately they're having their dog go in the street.  Taken June 19, 2013

Taken June 19, 2013

Kudos to this man outside my work who cleaned up after his dog!  Taken June 19, 2013

Bristol's "New" Dog Fouling Poster

The Bristol Council has picked up the image of the little girl eating poop that we've seen before in the Blackburn with Darwen dog fouling pamphlet, and this news article from the Huffington Post has me calling foul.  Actually, it's the blog referenced in the article that gets me upset, mainly because it's just restating my own comments about the image.  Specifically about the child model pictured, and how her parents must feel about the poster.

The Bristol version of this message.  This image is not my property.

At first I was a bit upset, but in the last week or so I've been having misgivings about this whole project and peoples' interest (or lack thereof) in it.  This article has steeled my resolve to continue in my efforts, because if an internet giant like the Huffington Post gets involved I must be onto something good.  Just remember, you read it here first!

I've tried to embed the funny video from the Huffington Post here using their own embed code, but it doesn't seem to be working.  If the video below does not load, you can watch it here.

Housing Complex Tests Dog Poop DNA To Track Down Owners Who Don't Pick It Up by Pat Dollard

Here's another example of a community testing the DNA of dog poop to put a stop to owners' irresponsibility.  I wonder if this is what the future will hold; will DNA leave a record of everything we've ever done?

June 18, 2013

It's been a few days since I've posted with any original pictures, so I was a bit nervous starting out on our walk today.  Thankfully there was a turd about a block away from where I live, and a few more new ones along the way.  I also found a doo-doo sign and a poop in the very same park.  The turd was right at the edge of a swing set; imagine you're swinging and decide to jump off but get caught and land funny.  It won't be funny when you land face down in old dog poop.

This one was almost obscured by the long grass.  Taken June 18, 2013

The sign in the park we went to today.  Did someone still leave a turd right in front of the swing set?  Yes.  Taken June 18, 2013

The offending poop.  Certainly within range of someone jumping from the swing set.  Taken June 18, 2013

A small one on the sidewalk.  Taken June 18, 2013

I've been finding turds on the sidewalk in front of this house a lot lately, and I think I'm going to make it part of my route.  Taken June 18, 2013

Council of Brunete: Poo Express

Here's the English language video from Brunete, Spain documenting their efforts to prevent dog fouling.  They claim 70% less dog poop in the streets!

Brunete, Spain

Alyssa Weesie's post on Vine

Here's another post from vine masquerading as the doo-doos of the day.  I had a root canal today and we walked at the quarries again, and no dog poop.  I know that it sounds like a lot of excuses but thankfully vine is there to pick up my slack with lots and lots of videos of dog poop.  This one is from someone named Alyssa Weesie, and it features a young child wiping dog poop off his shoe.  She's right, that can ruin your morning!

June 16, 2013

Today is Father's Day, and while the holiday was probably invented by Hallmark I am a father so I'm taking this for all it's worth.  Actually, I worked today and most of the day was the same as the average Sunday.  We took a walk around the neighborhood but there were no poops!  Do people clean up after their dogs in the summer more, or do they leave town?

The doo-doo right outside our building is now little more than some dirt among the mulch.  Taken June 16, 2013

Lauren Ghent's post on Vine

Here's another contribution from Vine.  I call it a contribution, even though the person who posted this did not submit it to me.  But things posted to vine are out there for everyone, so I'm calling it a contribution.

Brunete devuelve a los dueños las cacas extraviadas de sus perros

Here's the Spanish video from Brunete, Spain, where undercover investigators determine where the owners who don't clean after their dogs live.  This story is the dog poop news of the year, if not the decade, so we'll probably be hearing about it for a while to come.

June 14, 2013

I can't help it.  I just keep taking pictures of the poo bush.  There are some new turds today, along with some old ones that are almost decomposed.  

The poo bush.  Taken June 14, 2013

A straw has gotten mixed up with this old, old poop.  Taken June 14, 2013

This yard frequently has some poop in it, but never for more than a day.  The resident is elderly, but I think someone comes to check on her often.  Taken June 14, 2013

Very close to the doo-doo house.  Taken June 14, 2013