Council to highlight dog owners who won’t clear up fouling

Dog owners in South Holland who do not clean up their pet’s fouling face being shamed in a new council initiative.

Under a campaign called Bag It, Bin It, South Holland District Council dog warden Rachel Thompson will spray paint dog mess and stencil a hard-hitting message next to it.
The hope is that the highlighted mess will be seen by the dog owner who will then take action and continue to clear up in future.A similar scheme launched in Slough five years ago led to a swift cut of almost three-quarters of ignored dog fouling incidents.

Coun Anthony Casson, portfolio holder for public protection, said: “The issue of dog fouling is something which concerns our residents and one we’re continually looking to tackle.”

Meanwhile, neighbouring Boston Borough Council is now dishing out £100 fines to dog walkers who are not carrying a poo bag.
The council says dog poo bags are not expensive or scented nappy bags are an alternative which some people use.

Boston Borough Council approved new fines under new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) legislation last October, but residents were given until February 1 to get used to the new regime.
Fines for failing to clean up after a dog, allowing a dog into an enclosed children’s play area or refusing to put a dangerous or nuisance dog on a lead have been doubled to £100.

The new powers to control dogs are being introduced under the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 which allows councils to create a PSPO.

Public consultation showed that 90 per cent were in favour of it being an offence for dog walkers not to carry a bag or the means, at all times, to clean up after their dog. And 74 per cent agreed the fine should be £100.