Back in my day there was worse than that!
People with dogs didn't pick up the tutti like they do now. Koota shyte was all over the pavements. If you got a new pair of trainers - it was almost guaranteed that you'd step into some, and then spend 15 minutes looking for patches of grass to wipe that sh1t off with (which never came off fully). lol!
Plus dogs wondering around in gangs because people would just let them out on the streets like they were cats.....