Dog fouling
Information
You must clear up after your dog by law. If a council officer sees you failing to clean up after your dog, you will be asked to clear it up or you can be given a fine (fixed penalty notice) which allows you to pay £100 rather than be prosecuted. If you fail to pay the fine within 14 days, legal proceedings will be started. A Magistrate's Court may impose a fine of up to £1,000.
A Public Space Protection Order relating to greater dog controls was made on the 1 June 2016 and replaces a number of out of date by-laws and deals with issues such as dog fouling, and other forms of irresponsible dog ownership.
It makes it an offence to fail to:
- Pick up after your dog (dog mess) - this will now include all land to which the public can gain access
- Put a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer – this allows our officers to request a dog is put on a lead when it is causing nuisance and/or danger to other persons and their dogs
- Provide the means to pick up after your dog, such as dog mess bags, when asked to do so by an authorised officer