Allowing a dog to foul in a public space without cleaning it up is an act of environmental anti-social behaviour.
In order to assist us in our efforts please advise us if you have witnessed offences or you know of areas that need to be patrolled. You can report dog fouling by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.
If you provide information about the person responsible an officer may contact you to obtain further evidence as part of their investigation.
Don't put up with it!
- It's the law for an owner, or person in charge of a dog, to pick up after it has fouled on public land.
- Enforcement officers patrol the Borough and issue Fixed Penalty Notices to people who fail to clean up after their dogs. If they don't clean-up, they can be issued with a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice.
- The maximum penalty is a prosecution in a magistrate’s court.
- Dog waste is unpleasant and can cause serious illness & blindness to people through an infection called Toxocariasis; caused by worms found in dogs’ intestines.
- The council's Environmental Health section undertake strategic enforcement in areas particularly affected by fouling.
What you can do
- If you're a dog owner/walker - always carry a bag when you walk your dog.
- Bag up your dog waste securely (ideally double bagged) and this can be discarded in ANY public litter bin. You can report a damaged or overflowing bin online
- If you have a garden, train your dog to do its mess there and make sure you clean it up and put it in your red waste bin straight away. Never put animal mess in your blue or grey waste bins.
- Never let your dog go outside to do its mess alone.
Frequently asked Questions
What if it’s not my dog?
If you are in charge of the dog at the time of fouling, then you are responsible for cleaning up after it.
What if I don’t know my dog has fouled?
That’s no excuse! It’s your dog, you have to take responsibility for it. If you allow your dog to stray and it fouls, you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice or be prosecuted so you should watch your dog carefully during trips outside.
What if I haven’t got a poop scoop?
Again - no excuse. You should always make sure that when you take your dog outside, you bring along the means to clean up after it.
I’ve cleaned up the dog waste, where do I put it?
It is acceptable to put dog waste in ordinary litter bins. Please make sure it is securely wrapped first. If there is no bin available, please take your waste home and dispose of it in your red waste bin.
By cleaning up after your dog you are acting as a responsible owner. You are also protecting our children’s health and protecting the environment.
Report dog fouling