To: All Dog Owners
From 1st April 2009 Stratford-on-Avon Council plans to introduce powers contained in the ‘Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 Part 6 legislation for controlling dog fouling. The District Council is encouraging its Parish and Town Councils to adopt Fixed Penalty Notices to enforce this legislation.
Avon Dassett Parish Council is looking at ways to encourage dog owners to act in a responsible manner and ask you to adhere to the current dog fouling legislation.
Please consider the possible danger to public health caused by dog waste and pick up after your dog. Dispose of dog waste in a safe manner by using the dog waste bins in the village:
• by the playground
• by the bus shelter
• by the entrance to Bitham Hall drive
Do not allow your dog to roam the village unattended: you are responsible for your dog’s behaviour at all times.
We will keep you informed of any future decision to invoke the powers of the Clean neighbourhoods and Environment Act and how best to deal with the continuing problem of dog fouling in Avon Dassett.
The following information, from Stratford District Council, Environment Dept, is taken from the booklet ‘Dog Ownership- How to be a responsible dog owner’ which was issued to all village dog owners in January 2009
Fouling
The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 and the Stratford-on- Avon Dogs (Fouling of Land) Order 1997 brought in new rules which mean that you must clear up after your dog in public places.
Land covered by the poop-scoop law
1. Any carriageway where the driving of motor vehicles is subject, otherwise than temporarily, to a speed limit of 40mph or less.
2. Any footway which is adjacent to a carriageway specified in No. 1
3. Any grass verge maintained by local authority which is adjacent to:
a) a carriageway specified in No. 1; or
b) a footway specified in No. 2
4. Any pleasure ground, public open space and public recreational area
5. Any playing field (including school playing field) to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment)
The Offence
Where you are in charge of a dog and you do not clear up any mess (faeces) that dog makes you then become liable to a fine of up to £1,000 if you are prosecuted, or you may receive a Fixed Penalty notice of £50 which must be paid within 28 days.
No excuses.
Under the Act it is not a defence to say “I didn’t know that the dog had fouled”
or “ I didn’t have anything with me at the time to clear up the dog’s mess”
Note: Registered blind people are exempt under this law.
What YOU must do
• Always clear up after your dog
• Always bag your dog’s mess
• Put your bagged dog waste in a dog waste bin
• Where there are no dog waste bins, use any other Council waste bin
• Where there are no bins at all, take your dog’s waste home with you and dispose of it in your own waste bin
The Dog Warden Service
• Is manned by an experienced and fully trained Dog Warden with a specialist knowledge in many areas of animal welfare
• Seeks to promote responsible dog ownership
• Operates a scheme to reunite dog owners with lost dogs and prevent damage and distress being caused by stray dogs
• Deals with complaints related to dog fouling
FOR FREE ADVICE OR INFORMATION
Contact the Dog Warden Service on 01789 260839 or call in at the Stratford-upon-Avon office. Office hours are: Monday- Wednesday 8.45 – 5.15, Thursday and Friday 8-45 – 5.00
Environment
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House
Church Street
Stratford-on-Avon
CV37 6HX
Email: sophie.peacock@stratford-dc.gov.uk
Website www.stratford.gov.uk
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