South Ayrshire Council News

Abby the dog and her owner Bill Robertson (directly behind Abby) from Ayr help launch South Ayrshire Council’s new dog fouling campaign.
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A new campaign to tackle one of the biggest sources of Council complaints in South Ayrshire got underway today (Thursday 22 July) with a little help from man's best friend.

Councillor Peter Convery, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and the Environment, launched the new dog fouling campaign, highlighting the penalties for those who flout the law.

Dog fouling is one of the biggest sources of complaints received by South Ayrshire Council with more than 500 complaints received in the first quarter of 2010 alone compared with a total of 700 complaints for the whole of 2009.

Dog faeces cause a multitude of problems – they smell, make a mess, spoil the local environment and can cause real harm to your health. And they can cost you money if you don't clear up after your dog.

Keep Scotland Beautiful estimates there are around 1,000 tonnes of faeces produced by dogs in the UK every day – that's the equivalent weight of more than 200 average sized elephants!

The biggest threat from dog faeces is an infection called toxocariasis, which is passed from animals to humans and is spread in the faeces of dogs infected with roundworm. There are different types of toxocariasis and symptoms of the disease include abdominal pain and shortness of breath, but it can also lead to blindness and vision loss. Children are more likely to develop toxocariasis when playing in parks or play areas where infected dogs have fouled or when touching puppies or dogs.

Immediately disposing of your dog's mess in a responsible way makes sure the infection cannot be passed on and is an effective way to prevent this.

South Ayrshire Council has worked tirelessly to get the message across with more than 300 dog waste bins installed near parks, play areas and dog walking routes; almost three quarters of a million free 'poop scoop' bags issued in 2009; ongoing patrols; lamppost signage; and education talks in primary schools,

Councillor Convery said: "A great deal of work has already been undertaken to tackle dog fouling but the time has come to do more. Our message is clear– pick up after your dog or you will pick up an on the spot £40 fine. Not clearing up after your dog is an offence and we are taking the strongest possible stance to make sure we keep South Ayrshire clean and free from dog mess.

"When the ban on dog fouling was first introduced in 2004, there was a settling-in period where offenders were given the chance to pick up and warnings issued. However, we have taken a zero tolerance approach for some time and will not hesitate in issuing fixed penalties to offenders. Quite simply, if you don't pick up the mess, you will be £40 out of pocket – or £60 if not paid within 28 days. And that penalty could go up to £500 if reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

"We know the majority of dog owners in South Ayrshire are responsible and we are targeting the minority that leave the mess for others to deal with. There's absolutely no excuse for not cleaning up after your dog – all you have to do is take a bag with you, lift the mess and dispose of it in a bin, even if it means taking it home.

"South Ayrshire is a fantastic area and, particularly in the holiday season, we want our towns, villages, parks, open spaces and beaches to be as safe and clean as possible so we can all enjoy them. So make sure you pick up or you will need to pay up."

The Council's dog fouling campaign will combine education, awareness-raising and enforcement. There will be more patrols than ever before out and about in South Ayrshire and to maximise the opportunities to catch offenders, the power to issue £40 fixed penalty notices for dog fouling has been extended to a variety of Council employees.

More than 40 Council employees now have the power to issue fixed penalty notices including environmental health officers, housing officers, community support officers, community safety officers and sports and leisure employees. Police officers can also take enforcement action.

The Council is also introducing highly visible and eye-catching pavement stencils to help put the message across in known problem areas and will be introducing a dog walkers' charter to highlight the key messages of responsible dog ownership such as worming your dog, thinking about where you walk your pet and putting dog waste in a bin.

"I would urge dog walkers to remember that dog waste can also be disposed of in standard litter bins – not just designated dog bins. The key thing is to make sure the waste is securely bagged", added Councillor Convery.

"By taking some small steps, we can all do our bit to keep South Ayrshire looking good and a faeces-free area that can be enjoyed by residents, visitors and holidaymakers as well as our four-legged friends themselves."

For further information on South Ayrshire Council's dog fouling campaign and to get advice on responsible dog ownership, visit www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/dogfouling. You can report offenders by calling 0845 601 2020 or by email: environmental.health@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.