AN irresponsible dog owner shamelessly failed to clean up after the pet fouled on the platform of a new Borders railway station. it has been revealed.
And in another disgusting episode a woman made no attempt to clear up after her dog made a mess on a busy town centre pavement in front of shoppers. 
The repeated examples of dog fouling have prompted community leaders in Peebles to consider a new initiative in a bid to stamp out the menace.
Members of the town's community council agreed to investigate a project in which volunteers walk the streets reminding people to clean up.
The Green Dog Walkers initiative has already been adopted by many councils across the UK.
Volunteers wear a GDW armband and one of their main tasks is to issue reminders to other dog walkers to clean up after their pets.
The plan was announced at last week's meeting of Peebles Community Council after Tweeddale East councillor Gavin Logan related a shocking incident at Stow station.
"I was at the station on the Sunday when the first commercial trains were running and as we were leaving we noticed a poo on the platform," said Councillor Logan. "Fortunately we had poo bags with us in the car and we were able to pick up. It really is unbelievable that someone could allow their dog to do this and not clean it up."
Earlier at the meeting a member of the public, Sharon Montgomery, had told of her disgust at watching an elderly woman allow her dog to foul on the pavement in Peebles High Street.
"She just proceeded to walk away and I told her she had a responsibility to clean up. She just went to the bus stop and waited for the bus," she said.
Mrs Montgomery called the police but they did not come and it was two weeks later before she heard from them.
"I've got the bit between my teeth now. This is one of the most disgusting habits - there is a parasite in dog, cat and fox poo that can make you go blind," she said.
Sports players in the town were also suffering with mess left on the pitches in Peebles.
"They have to sweep the rugby pitches over for dog poo," said Mrs Montgomery. "When your face goes on to the grass you can come up with a little bit more than you expect.
"I want this problem taken seriously - we have to do something about it."
Lawrie Hayworth, the community council's acting chairman, said: "I have four dogs myself and, of course, I always pick up myself. This is a hugely annoying piece of anti-social behaviour.
"For a while the council had enforcement officers but we don't have the money for that. The community council can communicate its concerns but in terms of enforcement we are quite concerned,"
Community police officer Diane Sorrell told the meeting she had spoken to colleagues in Midlothian about adopting the scheme.
"We'd be more than happy to be involved with it," she said. "I am sure there'd be numerous members of the public interested in wearing armbands and making the public aware." 
Green Dog Walkers was established in Falkirk in 2008. Their aim is in a non-confrontational way to change attitudes about dog fouling.
Volunteers wear a GDW armband which signifies they have taken the pledge to always: clean up after their dog; carry extra dog waste bags; be happy to be approached to 'lend' a dog waste bag to those without; be a friendly reminder to other dog walkers to clean up after their dogs.
For more information contact greendogwalkers@yahoo.co.uk