East Ayrshire dog owners targeted during National Poop Scoop Week

Jun 19 2009 by Stef Lach, Kilmarnock Standard

DOG owners who don’t clean up after their pets are being targeted as part of National Poop Scoop Week.

East Ayrshire Council’s corporate enforcement unit will be on the case to raise awareness of issues relating to dog fouling and dog ownership during National Poop Scoop week which runs from June 22 to June 28.

Officers from environmental health, pest control, Strathclyde Police and the community wardens will work together to enforce messages and educate people about dog fouling and responsible dog ownership, something which can affect everyone, whether they own dogs or not.

Dogs Trust – the UK’s largest dog welfare charity – and East Ayrshire Council are urging all dog owners to be responsible and ‘Grab it, Bag it, Bin it’.

Dog fouling becomes an offence when it is not removed and disposed of correctly. It carries a fixed penalty of £40 which rises to £60 if not paid within 28 days and if it is not paid at all, the debt is passed to Sheriff Officers who will recover the cost of the penalty and their fee which is around £100.

The matter can also be referred to the Procurator Fiscal and a fiscal fine amounting to £500 can be issued.

It’s not just dog fouling that enforcement officers will be looking at during the week, but also the issue of stray dogs, dogs without tags and even excessive dog barking. Stray dogs can be picked up by the council’s dog warden service and taken to the kennels.

Councillor Bobby McDill said: “Ultimately, if you choose to own a dog, then you are responsible for it and must tidy up after it, otherwise you may be subject to a fine or a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

“We know that the majority of dog owners in East Ayrshire are very responsible – we just want everyone to take the same level of responsibility.”