New powers target irresponsible dog owners
Released: 23 March 2007
Dog owners in Wolverhampton who allow their animals to foul in public places and do not remove it will be hit with a £65 fine from next week, Friday 30 March 2007. The city council is getting tough on the anti-social problem by making it an offence for owners not to clean up after their pets – punishable by a fixed penalty fine.
The council has made use of new legislation – The Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to bring in four Dog Control Orders from next Friday, March 30. The first of the orders will make it an offence for an owner to allow their dog to foul and not remove the mess in virtually all open land in Wolverhampton.
The order replaces the outdated Dog Fouling Footways and Grass Verges Byelaw which only outlawed fouling in certain areas and could only be enforced via the magistrates court.
All land in the open air to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access will be affected by the order.
Councillor Pat Byrne, cabinet member for the environment, said: “This order targets those selfish and anti-social dog owners who allow their pet’s to foul on parkland, pavements and other open spaces and then just leave it for somebody else to clean up. I’m sure they will think again about their behaviour if they receive a £65 fine through the door.”
Members of the public will be able to contact the council if they witness a dog owner not picking up their animal’s mess. Providing they are willing to give a witness statement, the council will be able to issue a fixed penalty fine of £65 which will reduce to £50 if people pay early.
The council is also making three additional Dog Control Orders. One will outlaw owners taking their dogs into any fenced children’s play area or ball court as well as certain areas around Tettenhall Pool and in Northycote Farm.
The other two orders relate to keeping dogs on leads. It will become an offence for any owner not to keep their dog on a lead on the following main roads: the A41 (Tettenhall Road, Wergs Road, The Rock, Chapel Ash), A4123 (Birmingham New Road, Thompson Avenue, Birmingham Road), A4150 Ring Road, A454 (Willenhall Road, Lower Horsley Fields, Horsley Fields). Certain areas of Northycote Farm are also covered by this order.
It will also become an offence for a person to fail to put their dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer of the council in any open public place.
Issued by the press office.