Introduction | Barrow-in-Furness Borough Councils
Anti-Dog Fouling Campaign | No Fouling Signs | How You Can Help.
Introduction
In common with many areas of the country, the Borough of
Barrow-in-Furness has its fair share of irresponsible dog owners,
who do not clean up after their dogs have fouled in public
areas.
On 30th June 2008, new Dog Control Orders came into
effect in the Borough. A summary of these Dog Control Orders is available
here.
If you are seen failing to clear up after your dog, you may be
issued with a £75 fixed penalty. The offender will then have
14 days in which to pay the fine or face prosecution in
Magistrate's Court, where a maximum fine of £1000 can be
imposed.
An offence cannot be committed if:
- the person in charge of the dog is registered blind;
- the person who controls the land has consented to the faeces
being left on the ground
- the person in control of the dog has a reasonable excuse
The law does not consider as a
reasonable excuse:
- ignorance of the law
- forgetting to carry a bag
- lack of no fouling signs
Only one fixed penalty will be issued to each offender, anyone
caught failing to clean up on a second occasion, will be
prosecuted. If a Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council Officer is
obstructed whilst issuing a Fixed Penalty, the offender will be
prosecuted.
To date more than 129 Fixed Penalty
Notices have been issued in the Borough.
Barrow-in-Furness Borough Councils Anti-Dog Fouling
Campaign
Dog Fouling is a nation-wide problem, which the Government is
keen to address. As a result, since November 2003, Local
Councils have been allowed to retain all monies collected from dog
fouling fines.
In 2002 / 03
Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council launched an ongoing anti-dog
fouling campaign, using the following three initiatives:
- raising public awareness
- improving disposal facilities
- enforcement
The campaign began with a period of extensive publicity.
Leaflets with hard hitting images and slogans were produced and
distributed throughout the Borough.
The Leaflets gained good local press coverage and were featured
in the local newspapers. Additional No Fouling signs
were attached to lamp posts in fouling hot spots. The Mobile
Advice Centre, a high profile Council owned vehicle, toured the
Borough and allowed Officers to carry the no fouling message
throughout the whole Borough.
To support the campaign, 12 additional litter bins were sited at
popular dog walking spots, and signs were placed on all existing
street litter bins to illustrate that they can be used to dispose
of poop bags.
The final stage of the campaign was enforcement. To
compliment existing enforcement during working hours, Officers
targeted dog fouling hot spots early in the morning, in the evening
and at weekends.
No Fouling Signs
Clean Up or Pay
Up no fouling signs are currently being affixed to lamp posts
in areas of the Borough which suffer from heavy dog fouling.
Also available are sticky backed no fouling signs for use on rear
yard doors and gates. To request either of these signs,
please contact the Streetcare Enforcement Department on
01229 876327 or email us at
cleansing@barrowbc.gov.uk.
How You Can Help
All residents and visitors can help to reduce the amount of dog
fouling on the Borough's streets. If you witness an
irresponsible dog owner, who fails to clean up after their dog has
fouled, make a note of the date, time and location of the incident,
along with a description of the dog and the owner. If you
know their address, please note this down also.
You can report dog fouling on-line now or as soon
as possible by contacting the Streetcare Enforcement
Department on 01229 876327 or emailing us at cleansing@barrowbc.gov.uk.
If you know which dog owners are causing the mess on your
street, help us to help you by filling out this
form. (This information will remain
confidential)
You can print a copy of this form by clicking on the image
below.
