DOG owners in South Staffordshire are being warned to pick up their pets’ mess or face £50 fines.
Bosses at South Staffordshire Council are launching a crackdown on irresponsible owners as they bid to keep their district clear of fouling.
A rise in the number of complaints received about dog mess on pavements and sports pitches and in parks has prompted the council’s threat.
Roger Lees, cabinet member for public health, said: “As well as being pretty unpleasant, dog poo is poten- tially harmful, especially to children, and while the majority of dog walkers are responsible and do pick up after their pets, a small number of people choose to ignore the rules.
“Their failure to clear up after their pets is unac-
ceptable and something that we’re taking extremely seriously.”
The council has never issued a fine for dog fouling and has so far used patrols to educate dog walkers about their responsibility to clean up after their pets.
Councillor Lees said: “We haven’t issued a fine before but now it’s time to step up our enforcement and if we see someone letting their dog foul and not picking it up, they’ll find themselves with a fine, it’s a simple as that.”
Since September, the council has received more than 70 complaints about dog fouling across the district, including in Penkridge.
Residents can report dog fouling online at www.sstaffs.gov.uk or by calling 01902 696203.
