Environmental Health

Dog Fouling

Why do people keep dogs as pets?

Dog owners value the loyalty and companionship that their pets give them. Owners also benefit from regular exercise when walking their dog and from social contact with other dog walkers. It has also been found that stroking your pet can help to reduce stress and tension. A recent study found that pet owners benefited from lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than non-pet owners. The results show that owning a pet may help to reduce the risk factors for heart disease.

The benefits of owning a pet dog are many, however with so many people keeping dogs, it is vital that owners help to control fouling. This web page aims to explain the importance to local health and the environment of cleaning up after your dog and to encourage all dog owners to do so.

Why you should clean-up after your dog!

Allowing your dog to foul a public area is no longer environmentally acceptable.

It damages your local environment.
It increases tension between non-dog and dog owners.
It ruins everyone's enjoyment of walking in our parks.
It prevents children running freely or playing sports on open grassland.
It turns a walk to the shops into a battle with dog faeces.
It is a very unpleasant substance to wash off shoes, clothing or children.
It can spread disease.
It is an offence not to clean up after your dog and you could be fined £40

Healthy Dog, Happy Dog

Dog faeces can contain worm eggs, which remain on, or in the soil long after the faeces has weathered away. The eggs can be ingested by other dogs, thus continuing the cycle. Your walk in the park could result in your dog becoming infected through contact with another dog's faeces.

Dog faeces may affect young children if the worm eggs are ingested.

To prevent infection between dogs and to keep your dog free from worms, remember to worm your dog frequently - at least every 6 months.

What does Environmental Health do?

Environmental Health Division offer free poop scoop bags, which are available from their office, libraries and activity centres.

Bins for disposal are widely available in parks and many streets throughout the area. Responsible dog owners always pick up after their dogs.

Approximately 80 tonnes of dog faeces are picked up in South Ayrshire every year. Responsible dog owners are to be congratulated on this accomplishment.

Dogs and the Law what does it say?

If anybody sees a dog-owner who doesn't clean up after his or her dog and they can identify them they should report this to the Environmental Health Division or the Police.

The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 has made it an offence not to clean up after your dog in any public place with a fixed penalty of £40.