Nottinghamshire Council has introduced new rules to penalize dog owners who “disregard the rules” by not bringing bags to collect dog waste.
Council wardens will now have the power to approach landlords and challenge them as to whether they have the ‘means to take’ and can fine them £100 if they don’t.
Those who fail to settle the fine can be taken to court and ordered to pay £1,000 if convicted.
The measure, introduced by Rushcliffe Borough Council earlier this week, follows similar rules introduced by councils in Somerset, Devon, Lancashire and Darbyshire.
Part of new public spaces protection orders (PSPOs), first introduced in 2014, the rules have sparked controversy, with groups claiming they could punish responsible owners.
Dr Ed Hayes, Head of Public Affairs at The Kennel Club, said: “An important aspect of being a responsible dog owner is cleaning up any mess your dog leaves behind and having a stock of doggie bags waste with you.
“Whilst we support proactive efforts on behalf of local authorities to encourage owners to collect their dogs, we are concerned that these measures proposed by Rushcliffe Borough Council could result in otherwise bona fide owners being unfairly penalised, for example if they are already have done so used the required bags or given spares to someone else as encouraged by the Green Dog Walker schemes.
“Local authorities may wish to consider alternative measures instead, such as introducing a clause that provides an exemption for those who have used up their bags but are able to prove that they were in possession and used them during the walk you are However, it is essential that any plans are effectively communicated to local residents to ensure they have a surplus of dog waste bags with them.
“Punishing the masses for the actions of the few”
A Dogs Trust spokesman said: “Everyone wants to enjoy public spaces without dog mess. However, we do not believe that punishing the masses for the actions of a few is the best approach.
“Encouraging dog owners to pick up after their dog is something Dogs Trust continues to campaign for and we welcome any initiative put in place by local authorities to discourage dog fouling.
“However, we believe that educating and encouraging responsible dog ownership is far more effective than handing out fines, particularly if dog owners are confused and unaware of the PSPO.”
Bid to “engage and educate” dog owners
Cllr Rob Inglis, Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Environment and Safety Officer, said: “We are aware that the vast majority of dog owners take their responsibilities seriously and these new powers are there to deal with the minority who flout the rules , including those you don’t routinely carry bags to declutter.
“We are very keen to protect residents from all the issues that dog fouling raises and the overwhelming support from stakeholders for last year’s consultation shows that we have a strong mandate to further educate and take action.
“The focus will be on engaging and educating dog owners and applying fines only when necessary.”
“Our message to all dog owners is to always carry bags to ensure you are prepared to do the right thing and always pick up after your pet.”
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