Clackmannanshire Council Online

Scoop the Poop or Face a Fine

Dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets face a £40 on-the-spot fine after Clackmannanshire Council authorised officers to issue fixed penalty notices.

Councilors agreed at last week's committee meeting that a number of officers, including the Community Wardens and the Animal Welfare Officer, can hand out the notices to dog owners, unleashing the full affect of the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003.

The legislation, which came into force in October 2003, made it an offence not to clear up dog mess in all public places and introduced new enforcement powers, allowing local authorities and the police to appoint officers to issue the £40 fixed penalty notices to irresponsible dog owners.

Since 2003, Clackmannanshire Council has taken an 'educative' approach to the legislation, which has seen an increase in the number of 'poop scoops' issued to around 700,000 last year.

The committee decision is aimed at the irresponsible minority of dog owners who steadfastly refuse to clean up after their dog. It is hoped the measures will lead to cleaner, safer streets and parks across the county.

Committee Convener Councillor Eddie Carrick said: "The education and persuasion of dog owners will continue, but those dog owners who continue to blatantly disregard the law will be penalised."

"Dog fouling is an unacceptable public nuisance and a form of anti-social behaviour and I am confident that these new powers will help Clackmannanshire Council tackle this public concern. Not only will these measures positively impact on the local environment but they will also enhance community safety."

Free poop scoop bags are available from all council offices and CAPs. For further information or to report a problem, the contact Environmental Health on 0500 545 540 or the Community Wardens on 450000.

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Note to Editors

The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003:

·Changes the nature of the offence from one of allowing a dog to foul, to one of failing to clean up after a dog

• Applies to all public places;
• Allows the police and local authorities to enforce the new provisions by way of fixed penalty notices instead of going through the courts;
• Specifies a fixed penalty of £40, increasing to £60, if not paid within 28 days from the day after it was issued, unless a hearing has been requested or the notice is withdrawn;
• Removes the need for corroborating evidence which has made it difficult in the past to secure a conviction