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News

No Foul Play For Dog Owners

From today, Thursday 20th July 2006, dog owners must pick up after their dog on all public land including woodland, marshland and heathland or face a £75 fine as the Fouling of Land by Dogs (Borough of Poole) Order 2006 comes into effect.

Previously it was an offence for anyone to fail to pick up their dog(s) faeces in public places such as on the highway or in the park.  Following regulations introduced by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 councils are now allowed to make dog control orders to widen the areas in which dog fouling is an offence. 

The new Fouling of Land by Dogs Order, which comes into force today, applies to all land which is open to the air and which the public have access to such as heathlands and woodlands.

Council officers will be out and about across the Borough checking that dog owners are acting responsibly. Those owners who are caught not cleaning up after their dog will be issued with a £75 fixed penalty notice, or could face prosecution where the fine could be as much as £1,000. 

Dog fouling is a major problem in the UK and in Poole the Council receives over 150 complaints about the issue every year. Dog faeces carry harmful infections, the most common being Toxocariasis which can lead to serious eye disorders in children and adults.

Councillor Don Collier, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment said: “In a recent survey dog fouling was one of the issues our residents wanted us to do something about. This new Order, coupled with the use of fixed penalty notices, will mean we can clamp down hard on irresponsible dog owners to help keep Poole clean and safe. “

Katharine Teed, Communications, Borough of Poole, 01202 633295