County says NO to dog fouling

An action day held in Monmouthshire last week has drawn attention to the anti-social nature of dog mess left on pavements, parks, play areas and paths.

The Give Dog Fouling the Red Card campaign – a partnership between the county council's environmental health, waste and street cleaning teams as well as a number of town and community councils and the police – ran events in the county with an aim of reducing the amount of dog mess left in public areas, one of the most frequently raised environmental issues.

Council staff visited Monmouth and were joined by members of community groups in areas identified as dog mess hotspots.  They discussed the problem with local dog walkers, handing out free dog poo bags and leaflets about the Give Dog Fouling the Red Card campaign, of which Monmouth Town Council is a partner.  An additional dog fouling sign was erected at Rockfield football ground where dog fouling is a real issue.

In the south of the county, councillors in Magor & Undy encouraged responsible dog ownership by handing out free dog poo bags to be used and disposed of in the area's 30 dog bins.

While the emphasis was on seeking the support of dog owners, officials warned that the persistent few who continue to act irresponsibly could face a fixed penalty notice of £75.  A person who refuses to pay can expect to be prosecuted in court where the fine can be up to £1,000.  Dog owners who do not pick up can be reported to the council via http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/home/streets-parking-and-transport/recycling-and-waste/dogfouling/ which gives residents the option to use the council's recently-introduced My Monmouthshire app to log problems with dog fouling.

Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet member for operations, Councillor Bryan Jones said: "We all dislike the sight of dog mess on our streets, and instances of children coming home with it on their shoes or sports kit are infuriating.  Action days such as this are a really useful opportunity to raise the profile of this continuing concern and for all of us to make sure we are responsible dog owners.  Quite simply - bag it and bin it!"