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Anyone who has a dog knows the inconvenience of having to clean up after their mess on walks.

Some people get tempted to chuck it to the side of the path instead of waiting until they see a bin. Nobody will notice, right?

We all know it's not great for the environment, but in truth it can have a devastating impact - and can even kill large animals.

One photograph being shared widely on Twitter shows exactly what can happen if people are lazy picking up after their dogs.

The image, which was originally shared in 2017, shows a note posted outside a field in Surrey.

It reads: "TWO DEAD HORSES.

"You have killed two horses here by throwing your dog poo bags over the hedge into this field.

"The first horse died a couple of months back and the autopsy showed her full of poo bags.

"The second died last week and the vet said it was probably the same thing."

The note claims that horses are "attracted to the smell of the cereal content of dog poo."

It goes on to say: "Now a foal has been left without its mother because you couldn't be bothered to take the poo bag home or put it in a bin."

Twitter users shared in the outrage, with one commenting: "As a (responsible) dog owner, this is one of my pet hates.

"What's the point in picking it up if you're going to leave it somewhere else?! Just take it home, it's not difficult."

Others questioned why people would bother bagging it if they weren't going to throw it away, claiming it would be better to leave the waste on its own without plastic.

(Image: Getty)

When the note initially went viral on social media, an RSPCA spokeswoman explained to the Croydon Advertiser why throwing dog waste bags in public fields was so dangerous.

She said: "Grazing animals such as horses, cattle and deer can choke on them or some smaller animals and birds may climb inside bags and suffocate, or become entangled in plastic can holders."

Her advice was to make sure the waste bags are securely tied before disposing of them in the bins provided.