Dog Fouling Campaign – Fines for Foulers
Dog walkers are being warned that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is clamping down on irresponsible dog owners who risk people’s health as well as letting their pets cause an unsightly nuisance on the borough streets and green spaces.
Acting on residents saying clean streets are important to them, the council’s community safety patrol officers will now issue on-the-spot fines of £50 to anyone seen not clearing up after their dog whilst they are patrolling the borough. Refusal to pay the fine could land the culprit in court and even more out of pocket.
Dog mess should be bagged and then disposed of in any general litter bin, many dog owners responsibly throw away a large proportion of this mess, but there are still owners out there who are prepared to leave their dog’s mess littered on borough streets, parks and around the countryside.
The team is also keen to promote good dog responsibility and will be patrolling the borough parks to remind dog owners that they are expected to keep their pets under proper control, are legally required to ensure they wear a collar and ID and from April 2016 all dogs over eight weeks old must be micro chipped and registered or owners risk prosecution and a £500 fine.
As part of the crackdown residents are being asked to contact the council if they know of someone who regularly commits this offence. This can be done by calling 01256 844844 or emailing with as much information as possible including the times of day it happens, a description of the dog and the owner. This can be done anonymously if preferred.
Since taking over the management of the community safety patrol officers, the council has established a programme of campaigns targeted at problem issues. This started with a crackdown on litter in Basingstoke town centre and then at the Leisure Park followed by a cigarette butt campaign and now action on other issues including dog fouling and littering in parks.
Cabinet Member for Communities, Service Improvement and Delivery Cllr Robert Tate said: “Dog fouling is the most offensive type of litter on our streets and is constantly rated as one of the most important issues blighting their local area by the public.
“Being a responsible dog owner means cleaning up after your pet. We need to get the message across that it is every dog owners’ responsibility to pick up after their pet and put the bagged mess in a bin.”
For more information call 01256 844844 or visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/animalresponsibilities
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