Devizes dog owners will face fouling fines
12:00pm Friday 1st March 2013 in Latest News
Coun Sue Evans with a poster warning dog owners of fines for not cleaning up after their pets
Town council staff will be able to fine Devizes dog owners for not cleaning up after their pets if their application for a dog control order is approved by Wiltshire Council.
The town council applied for one of the new government dog control orders specifically to give their staff the ability to police dog walkers in Hillworth Park.
But they have also been asked by Wiltshire Council to monitor the behaviour of dog owners throughout the town.
Deputy town clerk Simon Fisher said: “The dog control orders are out to consultation at the moment. The consultation period ends at the end of March and then we will have to train our staff to issue fixed penalty tickets.
“The fine is £75 but it will only be used on dog owners who let their animals foul and then don’t clear up after them. Wiltshire Council is not able to police dog fouling across the county as they only have two dog wardens, so they have asked us, if any of our staff see an infringement elsewhere in the town, could they issue tickets if appropriate.”
Mr Fisher assured responsible dog owners they have nothing to fear under the new arrangements.
Town councillor Sue Evans welcomed the news. She said: “I am constantly being approached by residents who are fed up with the amount of dog fouling that goes on around the town.
“Windsor Drive is the worst area for this kind of thing, although there are problems all over town.”
Coun Evans has good reason to be particularly concerned about dog fouling as her son, Gareth, contracted an eye disease from dog faeces which still affects him today.
She and her husband Peter have launched their own campaign to urge dog owners to scoop the poop and have been putting up posters around the town.
The dog fouling plague is not purely a town centre problem.
Coun Laura Mayes, chairman of Devizes Area Board, said her board would be discussing the subject.
She said: “I would like the board to address this issue across the whole Devizes area as it is something that affects so many people.
“We need to find a way to get dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs’ waste and welcome Sue’s initiative to find a solution.”
Comments(13)
DevizesOldDuffer
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9:24pm Fri 1 Mar 13
cajohu
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9:51pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Old retired bloke
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10:03am Sat 2 Mar 13
Tess JC
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5:52pm Sat 2 Mar 13
Old retired bloke
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4:06pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Tess JC wrote:Utter rubbish! Doesn't matter how many bins are provided. Just because there's no bins doesn't give anyone the right to drop litter, so why does it excuse dog fouling. Always the same - let's blame the council!!!
I am a dog walker and feel this is totally out of order,i pay council tax and have done for many years and for what?if the council would do something positive for a change and pull their fingers out and place more dog litter bins about there wouldnt be so much dog poo about.Also maybe we should start a scheme to get the council to pay fines when they leave our bins thrown about everywhere.
notscot
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8:44pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Nah - let's blame everyone else.
Tess JC
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9:39am Mon 4 Mar 13
Old retired bloke wrote:of corse more people would start using the bins in wouldnt cure the whole situation i know that but would help alot so do one you tool
Tess JC wrote:Utter rubbish! Doesn't matter how many bins are provided. Just because there's no bins doesn't give anyone the right to drop litter, so why does it excuse dog fouling. Always the same - let's blame the council!!!
I am a dog walker and feel this is totally out of order,i pay council tax and have done for many years and for what?if the council would do something positive for a change and pull their fingers out and place more dog litter bins about there wouldnt be so much dog poo about.Also maybe we should start a scheme to get the council to pay fines when they leave our bins thrown about everywhere.
Old retired bloke
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10:19am Mon 4 Mar 13
Tess JC wrote:I think there was an insult in amongst that illiterate rambling? Get more sense out of one of your dogs!
Old retired bloke wrote:of corse more people would start using the bins in wouldnt cure the whole situation i know that but would help alot so do one you tool
Tess JC wrote:Utter rubbish! Doesn't matter how many bins are provided. Just because there's no bins doesn't give anyone the right to drop litter, so why does it excuse dog fouling. Always the same - let's blame the council!!!
I am a dog walker and feel this is totally out of order,i pay council tax and have done for many years and for what?if the council would do something positive for a change and pull their fingers out and place more dog litter bins about there wouldnt be so much dog poo about.Also maybe we should start a scheme to get the council to pay fines when they leave our bins thrown about everywhere.
juessunshine
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4:19pm Mon 4 Mar 13
Old retired bloke wrote:Not everyone has gardens and therefore have to take their dogs out for a walk to have a poo.
I don't agree that picking up your dog's cr@p makes you a responsible owner! A responsible owner would ensure that the dog defaecates in their own garden (and then dispose of it) before taking the dog out for exercise. Walking the dog should not be a euphamism for taking it for a sh*t. I have only known 2 people who did this because they thought other people shouldn't have to watch them picking up dog mess. Couldn't agree more! Too much trouble for most though...
Also you cannot help if your dog poos in the street they are living things and you cannot control their natural bodily functions, can you poo on demand?!
I do not condone leaving dog poo in the streets but I do believe that if there were more bins it would make it easier for people to do. Also there are no fines for people who let their cats poop on other peoples lawns/parks etc. Horses pooing on roads etc so why make a deal about dog owners?
AMGUTTED
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11:28pm Mon 4 Mar 13
notscot
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7:26am Tue 5 Mar 13
AMGUTTED wrote:And there you have it.
I have been going to the boot camps held on The Green.... Only to come away with my trainers covered in dog mess.. There is no excuse. Owners should be cleaning up after their dogs, and taking the deposits (!!) away with them. if the prospect of them being fined on the spot for not doing this ...then bring it on. But please town council, make sure you have the staffing to do it so that it is seen to be a real success..
And in the midst of all the cost-cutting - it aint going to happen.
Those dirty, lazy, shabby individuals will go on allowing their mutts to cr@p all over the pavements and do nothing about it.
I just don't get that level of ignorance.
They're all aware of their responsibilities when they become dog-owners.
The bags are cheap - they all know it's a huge problem and NONE of them can say they don't know the risks associated with the muck they leave behind.
How would some of them feel if others picked up the mess - followed them home and dumped it on their own gardens? Outraged, no doubt.
moonraker77
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7:56pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Tess JC wrote:The moderator has allowed your insult TJC. Please feel free to rant any time you like :-)
Old retired bloke wrote:of corse more people would start using the bins in wouldnt cure the whole situation i know that but would help alot so do one you tool
Tess JC wrote:Utter rubbish! Doesn't matter how many bins are provided. Just because there's no bins doesn't give anyone the right to drop litter, so why does it excuse dog fouling. Always the same - let's blame the council!!!
I am a dog walker and feel this is totally out of order,i pay council tax and have done for many years and for what?if the council would do something positive for a change and pull their fingers out and place more dog litter bins about there wouldnt be so much dog poo about.Also maybe we should start a scheme to get the council to pay fines when they leave our bins thrown about everywhere.
J.P.M says...
3:09pm Fri 1 Mar 13