Green councillor Simon Pickering has urged dog-owners to clean up after their dogs, following a spate of enquiries and complaints about dog muck in the district.
Cllr Pickering, who is chair of Stroud District Council’s environment committee, said: “People who don’t immediately clean up after a dog under their control are committing an offence – this includes leaving bagged poo hanging in hedges or trees. The council provides around 950 litter bins and 500 dog waste bins across the district, which can all be used for the disposal of bagged dog waste. Bagged dog waste can also be placed in your general household waste wheelie bin. So there is absolutely no excuse to not dispose of dog poo safely.”
The council can serve a Fixed Penalty Notice of £75 on owners who don’t clean up after their dog or who litter dog waste bags. Offenders could be prosecuted, which could lead to a maximum fine of £1,000.
Cllr Pickering warned that dog faeces can cause toxocariasis, which can cause blindness. Young children are more at risk as they are less likely to understand the dangers if they come into contact with faeces.
The issue appears to be widespread; there have been reports from across the country about problems with dog mess not being disposed of properly. It is thought the pandemic has worsened the issue as there has been an increase in dog ownership and more people are walking their dogs as part of their daily exercise, rather than letting them out into the garden to do their ‘duty’.
Stroud District residents can report dog mess online at https://www.stroud.gov.uk/report/report-dog-mess-or-fouling-problems
Overflowing mess bins can be reported here: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/report/report-a-dog-bin-overflowing
See Simon quoted in the local press, too:
https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/19051033.stroud-district-council-issues-dog-poo-warning/
https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/19050929.stroud-district-council-issues-dog-poo-warning/