Dog owners are being reminded to make sure they clean up after their dogs when out walking their four-legged friends.
Following reports of dog fouling in public spaces – including cemeteries – Knowsley Council’s Dog Warden Service is calling on dog walkers to make sure they carry bags to enable them to clean up after their pets.
Knowsley Council’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the control of dogs grants the Council the power to hold dog owners to account for dog fouling, including issuing Fixed Penalty Notices of £100 if the rules aren’t followed.
Anyone found guilty of breaching the order could be fined up to £1,000.
Dog owners are urged to:
- Be in control of your dog so you know when it has fouled
- Always carry a bag or other means of cleaning up after your dog at all times
- Always clean up after your dog if it fouls and
- Dispose of dog bags in the nearest bin or your maroon bin if there are no public bins nearby.
To raise awareness of the issue, the Council is regularly patrolling the worst affected areas and is appealing to local residents to report any incidents of dog fouling on the Council’s website Report it | Knowsley Council. This allows the team to identify dog fouling hotspots and focus patrols in these areas.
Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, Cllr Shelley Powell said: “We know that most residents are responsible owners and pick up after their dogs if they foul when out on a walk.
“However, the selfish and irresponsible actions of the few create a blight on our streets and public spaces and are particularly reprehensible in areas such as cemeteries where people come to remember and pay respects to loved ones.”