‘Dog lurker’ out of job

Press, 16 January 1985, Page 19

‘Dog lurker’ out of job

NZPA-AAP London Britain’s first “pooper snooper” is out of a job after his employers decided he had no impact on canine toilet habits, the “Guardian” newspaper reports. However, Sydney Spencer, aged 64, believes three years of keeping an eye on idoggie business did have 'some effect in West Hallam, Derbyshire. “The village smells much sweeter than it did when I started,” he told the "Guardian.” The local council took on Mr Spencer after a building boom boosted the population from 800 to 10,000 in 10 years, with a commensurate increase in dog numbers and droppings. His job, officially titled “dog lurker” but better known by the American title “pooper snooper,” was to spend six hours a week patrolling public recreation areas on the lookout for dogs — or their owners — breaching litter bylaws. To maximise his impact on dog owners, his name

was never revealed while he was on the job and his face was hidden When he appeared on television when national attention was ' drawn to the council’s solution to a universal problem. Mr Spencer said: “It’s true that nobody has been' ' taken to court buL plenty of warnings have been given. - Some people did get to know me. When they saw me in the recreation ground they’d take their dogs off.” Although Mr Spencer insisted that his job was not to prosecute but to report to the council, the council said it was the lack of prosecutions which had lead to his dismissal. Councillor Henry Shaw said: “We are sorry we have come to this pass, but there was no evidence he was having any effect. I would not blame Mr Spencer. It’s not just West Hallam. It’s a very difficult problem.” The council is now turning to the more orthodox method of signposts warning dog owners of the consequences of fouled footpaths.