Council drive to stop dog fouling

Feb 3 2010 by Robert Mitchell, Wishaw Press

PAWS for thought and scoop your dog’s poop — or you could be hit with a fine from the council during a canine crackdown.

If you don’t pick up your pet’s mess then a warden could drop you in it because over 100 penalty tickets have been handed out in the last year.

Wardens can slap you with a £40 on-the-spot fine and you would be barking mad not to pay it within 28 days as it will then go up to £60.

Kayleigh Collins, animal welfare officer with North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Dog mess in our streets or any other public area is unsightly and very unpleasant for anyone who comes into contact with it.

“This council will take a very firm stance against dog-owners who allow their dogs to foul and who fail to clean it up.

“Many fixed penalty notices have been issued and we will continue to issue these notices to irresponsible dog-owners to make it clear that it is completely unacceptable to allow their pets to foul and then not clear up.

“Any resident dog-owner looking for a poop scoop or dog fouling bags, or any resident encountering a specific problems concerning dog fouling, should contact our dog warden service on 01698 403110 for help.”

Following recent complaints from members of the public, the council dog wardens will be cracking down and will be issuing fixed cash penalties to irresponsible dog-owners who fail to clean up after their animals.

Recent studies have proven that people rated dog faeces lying about on our streets and parks as the mess that bothered them most. In addition to being a nuisance it can pose very serious health risks, especially to children.

North Lanarkshire’s dog warden service is determined to encourage dog-owners to help keep public spaces clean for everyone to enjoy.

The message Kayleigh is trying to get across is ‘Grab it, bag it, bin it’. Always keep a supply of bags near your dog’s lead so you don’t forget to take them with you on every walk.

Simply insert your hand in the bag and pick up your dogs waste. Carefully turn the bag inside out and ‘bag’ your dog’s mess. Dispose of the bag in a bin. Dog waste can be put in a public litter bin if a specific dog waste bin is not provided.