Published on:
23
May 2013
The Council is launching its latest campaign to try and combat the nuisance of dog fouling.
Dog Watch aims encourage the public to report when they witness an offence being committed. One of the main reasons that dog owners don't clear up after their dog is because they think there's not a Council officer watching. However, if the message gets out that the general public can take direct action to report offences, dog owners are far more likely to behave responsibly.
For Dog Watch to be successful, the people of Clackmannanshire need to play their part and assist the Council by reporting offences, displaying posters and information which can be provided by the Council and even demonstrating zero tolerance of this element of antisocial behaviour by speaking to dog owners within their neighbourhood and encouraging them to behave responsibly.
The Council can offer support to communities who are willing to assist by way of following up on reported offences, targeting areas of greatest complaint with uniformed and plain clothed patrols by the community wardens and animal welfare officer, who are amongst the Council officers who can and will issue Fixed Penalty Notices where necessary.
Initially operating within the town of Clackmannan, the initiative will be rolled out across Clackmannanshire as community groups sign up to the campaign.
The campaign launches at Clackmannan Town Hall at noon on Monday 27th May. You are invited to send a photographer.
Councillor Donald Balsillie, Enterprise and Environment Convenor, said: "The Council receives a lot of complaints about dog fouling and we know that people find it disgusting. We think our hard hitting posters and flyer will have an impact, as well as the targeted work of our community wardens team. We are targeting Clackmannan initially, because of the level of complaints we have received recently.
"In order for this campaign to work, we need local people to join us in the fight for cleaner streets - local people are our biggest asset in helping us address the issue. If we have enough evidence, our officers will issue a fixed penalty notice.
"The Council is playing its part - we have provided almost 300 dog fouling bins across the Council area and dog fouling bags are available free from Council offices, CAPs, libraries, from the animal welfare officer and from the community wardens. We issue almost 2 million dog bags every year. You can use any bin to deposit dog fouling bags, including your green bin at home, so there really is no excuse.
"Thoughtless dog owners are ruining other people's enjoyment of our streets and countryside and giving responsible dog owners a bad name. Ideally, dog owners should be too ashamed to walk away from their dog's mess because the whole community find what they are doing completely unacceptable."
To report details of a dog fouling offence please call 0500 545 540, email cat@clacks.gov.uk or use the 'report it' function on ClacksWeb.