If your dog fouls in a public area, you can be collared and fined up to £1,000.
Problems with dog fouling and owners of dogs who allow their pets to foul public areas are covered by The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.
- A lack of signage or dog waste bins is no excuse for not clearing up after your dog - plastic carrier bags from your local supermarket can be used as emergency 'poop scoops'.
- Specially designed poop scoops can be purchased from your local vets' surgery or pet shop.
- If you can't find a red dog waste bin, litter bins can be used if the mess is bagged and sealed.
- Dog mess is a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. A single dog mess can contain over a million worms. The eggs from these worms can cause blindness which cannot be cured. Children are particularly at risk from coming into contact with dog mess where careless owners allow their pets to foul play areas.
- Fixed penalty notices of £80 can be served by council wardens on people who fail to clear up after their dogs. To report an incident of dog fouling, please call Serco on freephone 0800 031 9091 or e-mail them.
- If offenders are taken to Magistrates Court, they could face a maximum fine of £1,000.
The law applies to:
- footpaths
- footways
- highways
- beaches
- parks
- public gardens
- amenity land
- council land
The only areas not covered by the act are agricultural and forestry land.
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