East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire councils crackdown on dog fouling
Two councils have set up schemes to clamp down on dog owners not cleaning up after their pets.East Riding of Yorkshire Council said it was stepping up efforts to tackle dog fouling and has urged people to send in doorbell videos or CCTV footage of incidents in order to issue fines.North East Lincolnshire Council said it had issued nearly 300 fines between September 2023 and August 2024 for dog-related offences including pet owners leaving dog waste.It said it would be rewarding those who pick up mess left by their pooch through a new scheme.
Dog mess can pass on a disease called neosporosis which can affect other animals, like cattle. It can also cause infections in humans. Lyn Healing, an East Riding of Yorkshire councillor, said everyone needed to play a part in helping to keep areas clean. "We know that many dog owners are responsible and conscientious members of their communities, but there are a minority responsible for antisocial behaviour and unsanitary conditions," she said."We highly encourage everyone to play their part in helping to keep their areas clean and to use technology such as doorbell cameras to assist the council in its work in tackling dog fouling offences."Anyone with evidence of dog fouling incidents have been advised to get in touch with the council.
A total of 284 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of £100 have been issued by North East Lincolnshire Council for dog-related offences including "having no means to pick up, dogs not on leads and dog fouling".The authority said offenders could be prosecuted and face up to £1000 fine if they fail to pay.It has started a "responsible dog ownership" initiative to recognise those who clean up after their pets, with people being offered the opportunity to enter a prize draw as part of the campaign.Ron Shepherd, a North East Lincolnshire councillor, said: "Whilst there are rules that need to be enforced, it's important we reward the people who are acting in the appropriate manner."
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