Dog fouling is a crime
It is illegal to let your dog foul in a public place without cleaning it up. This is known as dog fouling and it is an act of environmental anti-social behaviour.
The consequences of dog fouling
Dog fouling is unpleasant and can cause serious illness, such as blindness, to people through an infection called Toxocariasis. This infection is caused by worms found in dogs' intestines.
Enforcement officers patrol the Borough and issue Fixed Penalty Notices to people who fail to clean up after their dogs. If you are caught not cleaning up after your dog, you could be issued with a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice. If you do not pay the Fixed Penalty Notice, you could be prosecuted in a magistrate's court.
What you can do
If you are a dog owner or walker, please always carry a bag when you walk your dog. Bag up your dog waste securely (ideally double bag it) and dispose of it in any public litter bin. You can report a damaged or overflowing bin online.
If you have a garden, train your dog to do its mess there and make sure you clean it up and put it in your red waste bin straight away. Never put animal mess in your blue or grey waste bins.
Never let your dog go outside to do its mess alone.
More information
If you are in charge of a dog at the time it fouls, you are responsible for cleaning up after it. Even if you don't know your dog has fouled, or don't have a poop scoop, it is no excuse. You should always make sure to bring along the means to clean up after your dog when you take it outside.
Once you have cleaned up the dog waste, you can put it in any ordinary litter bin, as long as it is securely wrapped. If there is no bin available, take the waste home and dispose of it in your red waste bin.
By cleaning up after your dog, you are acting as a responsible owner and protecting children's health and the environment.
How to report dog fouling
If you see someone letting their dog foul without cleaning it up, or you know of an area that needs to be patrolled, please report it to us. You can do this by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
If you can provide information about the person responsible, such as their name and address, we may contact you to obtain further evidence as part of our investigation.