Dawn patrols to target dog-fouling in East Yorkshire towns
DAWN patrols are planned to catch dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets.
Wardens have not revealed exactly where they will be or when they will be out and about.
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Pick it up: A responsible dog owner clears up after her dog.
But routes being targeted from next week are likely to include dog fouling hotspots in Bridlington, Beverley and Goole.
Complaints about dog fouling in those areas have risen significantly in the past two years.
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East Riding Council hopes to enlist the public's help and make it socially unacceptable for people not to clear up after their pets.
Environment control manager Dave Howliston said: "We want to have a bit of a purge that week.
"The aim of the dawn patrol is to see if we can encourage people to clean up after their pets.
"People sometimes forget that they need to clean up in parks and places like that because that's where the kiddies are playing.
"At the end of the day people need to clean up after their dogs if they are in any area where people have access to."
As part of Dog Fouling Week, which runs from Monday, dog wardens backed up by enforcement teams will out on patrol across the East Riding.
Fines of £75 will be handed out to offenders and failure to pay could mean an appearance in court.
Councillor Jackie Cracknell, of community partnerships, said: "Dog Fouling Week is not about springing surprises on dog-walkers.
"It is about promoting responsible dog-ownership so all residents and visitors can enjoy the beauty of East Yorkshire without having to mind where they are treading."
The council received 509 complaints about dog-fouling last year, compared with 429 in 2011 and 386 in 2010.
Mr Howliston says the increase is at least partly attributable to people being more willing to complain about dog walkers not cleaning up. He said: "I would certainly not suggest people put themselves in harm's way but we can try to change people's behaviour.
"The more social pressure, the more chance there is of people being caught."
The task of catching people is so tricky only three or four fixed penalty notices were issued last year.
The problem lies in witnessing a dog fouling incident and witnessing the owner failing to clean up after it.
But among those caught last year was a Bridlington man who has also been prosecuted for non-payment of his fine.
Mr Howliston says there is a definite willingness to prosecute, even relating to incidents in open countryside, away from built areas.
He said: "There are some lovely walks out there.
"When you're trudging up those walks the last thing you want to be doing is standing in dog muck.
"People still have to clean up after their pets in the open countryside."
To report an incident of dog fouling, visit /www. eastriding.gov.uk/environ ment/pests-and-dogs/dogs and follow the link.
22 Comments
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by TimCronin
Thursday, March 07 2013, 6:55AM
“I tell you what, someone needs to get themselves round to Barmby on The Marsh, there`s dog eggs all over down there!! It`s terrible, and it looks like it`s all from the same dog too, so someone knows who this is.”
by ferretmonger
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 3:07PM
“@foxache, Grow up imbecile!”
by red_dog
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:34PM
“Try walking around HESSLE. It's like playing hopscotch trying to dodge the heaps of dog mess.”
by SantiagoSam
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:14PM
“What puzzles me ( a dog walker myself), are the people who scoop up the dirt, and then ,when they assume that they are unobserved, throw them in bushes etc.
Why go to the bother of bagging it in the first place ?”
by Foxache
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:11PM
“Quite simple - if a dog is seen fouling it is shot and the owner charged for the bullet and the disposal costs.
It shouldn't take many before owners then start to show a bit of responsibility”
by langavat
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 12:13PM
“If they pop down wellsted st and stand in the children's play area they will catch one a hour!!
reported it on Hull CC dog fouling site and guess what happened? yes that's right NOTHING”
by David_Nivea
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 12:12PM
“What about the people who clear up, and then hang the bag of Fido's Eggs on someone else's fence or shrubs? Or the ones just lob the putrid pouch of pooch poop into common grassed areas: Woman in white coat with boxer dog Saturday, 10am, this means you!
Also, I hope that one day local councils will have Child Wardens to encourage responsible Brat ownership. This article should be republished substituting the words parents and children for pet owners and dog, where appropriate.”
by ChrisAHOSM
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 12:05PM
“... er, "someone else's pavement"? As a taxpayer I can also lay claim to pavement ownership, even as a dog walker.
And no, I can't see dog walking being banned either, which is pretty much what's being suggested below.”
by places
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 11:51AM
“what kind of law lets someone walk there dog out of there own garden gate , walk it to outside someone else ,s pavement and garden gate and lets it dump its mess !whether they clean it up or not , there is still something left on that area were the dogs done it , people come and walk by later and then go to there own homes and properties with something on there shoes , perhaps it time the councils should be fined for allowing it to happen ?”
by Maccy_george
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 11:47AM
“Can we also have the same clampdown on cat owners who let their pets mess in other people's gardens?
Most dog owners will clean up after them but with cats none of them do.”