Council is cracking down on foul play by dog owners
Wyre Forest District Council is cracking down on dog owners who
fail to clean up after their pet.
Enforcement officers have been making special patrols of parks
in the district. They have been speaking to dog owners and
finding out how much they know about what happens if they do not
remove their dog's mess.
There are approximately 30,000 dogs in Wyre Forest. Each day
they produce nearly 12 tonnes of dog mess. The problem is not only
unsightly, it can be a health hazard too, leading to blindness due
to an infection called 'Toxocara canis'.
Enforcement Officers can hand out on the spot fines of
£50. During the campaign they have been using stencils on
paths to highlight this message and will be patrolling parks and
other public areas enforcing against those who ignore the
message. Failure to pay the fine can result in the case being
presented in a Magistrates Court in which the Maximum
Penalty for Conviction can then be £1000.
The crackdown on irresponsible dog owners is part of a bigger
campaign called 'Love your Place'. It is to encourage
residents to report problems with litter, flytipping, graffiti and
the like around the district. Visit the Love your place
page for more information and links for reporting
environmental problems.
Councillor Marcus Hart, Wyre Forest District Council's Cabinet
Member with responsibility for Environmental Services said,
"The majority of people do take pride in their area, but there
is a minority who continue to act irresponsibly. There is no
excuse for not clearing up after your dog and we are highlighting
this message and the penalties you could face. Wyre Forest
district is a fantastic place to live and we don't think it is too
much to ask to residents to help us keep it safe and clean."
Photographs shows Cllr Marcus Hart with Mark Brown,
Environmental Maintenance Technician.
Date of issue - 29th June 2011