Fines warning over 'disgusting' dog fouling

Dog owners have been reminded they could be fined if caught failing to clean up after their pet.

City of Doncaster Council renewed a public space protection order (PSPO) last month aimed at addressing dog fouling in public places, as well as reducing crime and anti-social behavior.

The local authority said not picking up dog mess could result in a £100 fine, with recent prosecutions showing how seriously the council takes the issue.

Deputy mayor Glyn Jones said: "Please, if you are walking your dog anywhere in our city, make sure that you have means to pick up after it and that you take your bags to the bin once they're filled."

Among other things, the PSPO specifies where leads must be worn in the city and where dogs cannot be taken for safety reasons.

The order also states that the person in charge of a dog must remove its mess straight away and that failing to do so is a finable offence, as is failing to produce a suitable means of picking it up, such as a disposable bag.

Either offence could result in a fixed penalty notice of £100 being issued.

The council said recently one dog owner in Hexthorpe had been issued a £100 fine for failing to pick up after their pet, and when they failed to pay it the matter was taken to court, resulting in an increased penalty of £306.

Jones added: "Dog fouling is a disgusting offence, whether it takes the form of somebody not picking up after their animal or somebody not taking disposable bags to the bins and instead just leaving them piling up in plain sight.

"Make no mistake, this is antisocial behaviour and, as these recent court cases show, it's something that we take very seriously here at the council."

Members of the public can report dog fouling by heading to the relevant page on the council's website.

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