07-01-13 Argyll And Bute Council Press Release
Dog owners warned to scoop it, bag it, bin it - or pay the price
ARGYLL and Bute Council is taking action to deal with dog owners who fail to clear up after their pets during walks in the area’s towns, villages and rural communities.
One dog owner in the Mid Argyll area has already fallen foul of a £40 fine after being issued with a fixed penalty notice by council officers who have been carrying out special patrols to tackle the problem. Several dog walkers have also been cautioned.
Dog fouling is an unsightly problem which becomes worse in the darker winter hours and affects facilities used by everyone in the community, from popular walking spots to sports fields used by young people.
Now, Argyll and Bute Council teams are responding by carrying out extra patrols in the early morning and evening, as well as working in partnership with local police.
It is an offence to allow your dog to foul on public land (including parks, foot paths, grass verges and roadside gutters) without cleaning it up immediately. Any pet owner who fails to pick up the mess left behind by their dog risks, at best, a caution or a fixed penalty notice with an on-the-spot £40 fine. However, any unpaid fixed penalty case which ends up in court could result in a fine of up to £500 – an expensive price to pay for not taking the time to clean up after your pet when it is out in public.
Argyll and Bute Council’s lead councillor for licensing and regulatory services, Sandy Taylor, said: “People who live, work and visit our communities should not have to put up with the unsightly blight on the landscape caused by dog fouling. Nor should they have to suffer the consequences of stepping on the mess left behind by irresponsible dog owners.
“Council staff are making extra efforts to tackle the problem but dog owners should be aware of their own responsibilities to clean up after their pets and dispose of waste safely.
“Dog owners should always be prepared when exercising their pets, carrying a suitable bag to be used to pick up and dispose of this waste. They certainly should not walk away leaving the mess on our footpaths, pavements, public spaces and sports fields causing distress to other people. Failing to do so could prove extremely expensive for dog owners.”
Dog fouling in your community can also be reported using the council’s website at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/myabc/dogfouling or at your nearest customer service point.
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