Dog Fouling 

According to recent surveys the waste left behind by dogs is the single biggest environmental concern that people have about their local area. The overwhelming majority of people find dog waste unacceptable. With an estimated 4 and a half million owners allowing their pets to foul and around 1000 tonnes of dog waste produced daily in the UK there is a clear need to raise awareness of the need to ‘pick up the problem’.

 

Dog waste is not only an extremely unpleasant and unwelcome commodity it is also the perfect breeding ground for bacteria (Campylobacter and Salmonella) and other forms of infection.

 

Every dog owner should be aware that it is their legal requirement to clean up the waste left behind by their dog. The most straightforward means of controlling dog waste is to train the dog to go at home. Training is best accomplished in young dogs but effective training can be given to a dog of any age. You can teach an old dog new tricks! As a responsible dog owner you should always be in sight and in control of your dog, being unaware of your dog's fouling is not a defence against prosecution.

 

 

It is an offence under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 (external link) if a dog defecates on designated land and the owner, without reasonable excuse, does not remove the faeces from the land.

 

 

The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Order 2003 applies to all land to which the public have access, subject to the following exemptions;

 

 

Apart for making areas unpleasant for its users, dog faeces can be harmful to human health. An infection called Toxocara canis, can be caught from dog faeces, however it is rare. Owning a dog carries a great responsibility, and it is every owner's duty to clean up after their dog, there are no excuses, not clearing up is unacceptable.

 

 

It is a rare infection which can be transmitted through dog faeces. However the eggs of the worm take over two weeks to hatch and do not provide any immediate health risks if you clear up immediately after your dog. It is a rare infection, only about 5% of dogs tested where found to expel the worm eggs, however the eggs can lay dormant in the ground for up to three years, if the conditions are right. The potential harm to human health from this infection is quite high, and can cause blindness in some cases.

 

 

There is no risk to your health if you clean up after your dog immediately. Eggs from Toxocara worm take 2-3 weeks to become infectious, and land will only become contaminated after this time. If dog owners immediately cleaned up after their dogs the threat of Toxocariasis would be virtually eradicated.

 

 

The best method is to use a doggy bag, or carrier bag, to pick up the faeces, and then this should ideally be placed in a dog bin. If this is not possible then the bag should be taken home and placed in an outside bin.

 

 

If you are found to allowing your dog to defecate and not clearing up after it, then you will be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice. You can be issued with up to three notices, and any further reports will be followed through the Courts.

 

 

In Purbeck we currently have around 142 dog bins placed throughout the district, as well as a number of No Fouling signs.

 

 

The main exception to this legislation is for a blind person in charge of a dog which is being used for that person’s guidance. There are no specific exceptions for the partially sighted, the elderly or the infirm, or for persons under the age of 16.

 

 

Yes, the legislation applies to ‘the person in charge of the dog’, and may not necessarily be the dog's owner. If you are caught allowing a dog to foul and not removing the waste you are liable for the offence regardless of who actually owns the dog.

                                                                                                               

 

It is easy to report an incident of dog fouling, however there are a few simple rules to follow when reporting an incident;

 

 

We are only able to issue a penalty notice based on the information you provide, If you are willing to provide a witness statement and/or attend Court in the event of subsequent legal action.

 

 

A recent survey by Keep Britain Tidy found that 76% of the public think that dog owners that persistently let their dogs foul should be banned from owning a canine.