Bag it and bin it or face a £50 fine

Date published: 23/06/2008

As part of National Poop Scoop Week (23 – 29 June), Rochdale Council is reminding dog owners in the town to bag it and bin it or face a £50 fine.

The week, organised by the Dogs Trust, is designed to raise awareness of the problem of dog fouling and to encourage owners to clear up after their dogs.

The Council is backing the campaign, and Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Councillor Wera Hobhouse is spearheading the cause. She said: "Not only is dog mess disgusting, it's also harmful - and not cleaning it up is illegal.

“We know that the majority of dog owners do the decent thing and clear up after their animals, but a small minority still allow their dogs to foul in public and simply walk away from it. This isn't acceptable and we won’t let those who fail to clear up after their pet get away with it. The council's message is very simple - bag it and bin it, or face a £50 fine."

In the UK, dog fouling costs councils £22 million a year to clean, and remains the nation’s most complained about issue.

In the last two years, Rochdale Council has responded to over 800 complaints of dog fouling and cleared up the mess left behind culpable dog owners throughout the borough.

Over the same period, 70 fixed penalty notices were issued for this offence and three dog owners were prosecuted through the courts for failing to pay their penalties.

The Council firmly encourages dog owners to bag it and bin it through the provision of ‘scoop the poop’ bags, which are available for free from council offices and community centres.

In the event that dog owners do not have any special ‘scoop the poop’ bags, they can simply use a plastic carrier bag, tie it up tightly, and dispose of it in any street litter bin.

To report dog fouling in your neighbourhood get in touch with the Contact Centre:

Email: environment@rochdale.gov.uk

Telephone: 0845 226 1800