We continue to receive reports that dog owners are not disposing of their animal's waste. All persons in charge of a dog must always remove and suitably dispose of their dog's poo (i.e. collect, bag and – most importantly – bin it!). The abundance of dog poo in public spaces at this time of year is not a new problem, but the fact that we have been in National Lockdown for some time now has made it clear that residents must take greater responsibility for this issue.
Cllr Steve Sims, Lead Member for Place, said: “Dog mess is an issue that affects everyone on the islands, whether they are trying to get some daily exercise - one of the few activities we can actually enjoy during lockdown - or simply trying to get from A to B. It is a particularly stressful issue for parents, who must be on constant alert to keep their children away from this disgusting, and criminal health hazard, and no one should be put in this position. As an owner of dogs myself, I know how easy it is to meet this basic responsibility, and there is no excuse not to do so. Leaving others to pick up after a dog you are in charge of because you don’t want to do so yourself is a deeply selfish act and it saddens me that it is still going on within our community.”
All of the Council's general waste bins on the islands can be used to dispose of dog poo, as long as it is bagged. You must never throw bagged waste into hedges, or leave on pavements and verges, as it presents a danger to other animals and to everyone trying to maintain our public spaces. The Council would rather not have to go to the expense of putting in place tracking procedures and carrying out enforcement for a problem that is so easily solvable, so this is a plea to all dog owners to help us to improve the quality of our public realm and avoid introducing further measures to tackle this unnecessary Public Health issue.
The Council's Environmental Health Officer can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (on the spot fine) of £100 where a person in charge of a dog fails to remove and suitably dispose of dog poo.