Reporting those who leave dog mess

julie2710

We had the same problem, same person on a daily basis. they used to drag the poor dog along as it was going so the mess stretched from one side of my drive, across the front of the house! :eek:

Reported it countless times, supplied evidence along with the address of the perpetrator after following them home. Had tried telling them, shouting down the street at them. In the end I put it in a doggy bag and posted it through their letter box with a note attached saying "I think you forgot this!"

It was quite a warm day and although I did tie the bag it was very loosely . Strangely they haven't returned

Bluemeanie_2

I can tell you why it would appear "that nothing is done by the council". Being an Enforcement Officer for a number of years and since 2009 a Manager of the dept I do have do defend council's slightly on this one. I used to work for a large unitary authority that had, due to the political control a large team of wardens. We issued hundreds of fixed penalty notices for littering and maybe only 5% compared for failing to clean up dog fouling. I don't know why they are a lot harder to catch! A lot of people carry bags, but then if there's no one around, take a sneaky look and just ignore it. The wardens were always out and about, backed up by the fact they were always issuing littering tickets and catching other environmental offenders. We even acted on specific intelligence from the public (who did tend to exaggerate it had to be said! If it happened once they'd say it was daily etc as dog fouling is so gross) but figures were very low. I never caught anyone on specific patrol in high problems areas. It tended to be by "chance" while I was out on patrol dealing with other issues etc. I'd just happen to catch someone.
Now I work for a small borough authority and there are 2 wardens covering the whole entire area, very rural and vast. This includes the stray dog collection service and all environmental offences (littering, dog fouling, fly-tipping etc). So I have 74 man hours a week, then holidays, sickness etc to consider. If a large fly tip comes, or collecting a stray dog etc that takes priority over dog fouling patrol unfortunately. So its a major balancing act. We simply do not have the time to patrol constantly for weeks on end to catch one specific person when we receive maybe 20 complaints a week.
I'd love to have a massive team. I'd have them out constantly, like at my previous authority getting the streets cleaned up. But unfortunately budget constraints at the minute are horrendous. Believe it or not wardens services are not a statutory function like having a food inspector etc is so if you live in a council that is very small, chances are you won't even have a dog warden that is an enforcement officer as well. Or they will have to do all the other functions so have very little time to do patrols etc.

Just thought I'd tell you about it from the other side!

MrsAtobe

Useful input from bluemeanie. Our local council introduced dog control orders at the beginning of the month, and so far they are in completely and utterly useless. Apart from the total exclusion areas, no-one seems to know what is or isn't included. Council workers say one thing, dog warden says another, and the council website gives a third thing. Has this meant that every owner picks up after their dog? Of course not. One of the dogs locally had a huge fb presence when he went missing, what the owners failed to share was that he was allowed to wander because they hadn't neutered him, and they couldn't control him if there was a lady dog in season anywhere nearby. So who was there to pick up after him - nobody. He went missing for nine months, and was eventually reunited from a pound over 200 miles away. He still isn't neutered, and I returned him home on more than one occasion. I would love to see his owners prosecuted under the dog control orders, but I can't see it happening. Sorry, rant over

frugalliving

I have had a dog all my life except the last four years when my pooch passed away after 15 years together, I would have another now but for my sons illness prevents it, but anyway for nearly 30 years I walked, fed ,cleaned and looked after my wonderful pets not once did i leave it for someone else to do...if you own a dog then you ARE reponsible for it NO ONE else!

Cats are another problem never poo on their own gardens and are allowed to roam where ever they want didn't have much of a problem when we had pooch but i think they all come to mine to hang out now ! disgusting things !! sorry to go on lol

pulliptears

bylromarha wrote: »

Good luck - report it til the cows come home - nothing will get done.

Not necessarily.

I reported repeatedly to my local Councils 'Environmental Crime' department. We got signs, spray paint symbols on the pavements and every home on the estate got a letter warning about the fouling. More importantly we got surveillance which I believe resulted in several fines.

Whilst it hasn't stopped altogether there is a marked decrease in the problem here.

morg_monster

I read this on the BBC website last week, "maybe some useful tips in there that might work for you?!
Eight radical solutions to the problem of dog mess
I think the shaming people / taking direct action is probably the option that could have the quickest result but it depends... if they are the type of person everyone in the neighbourhood is scared of, maybe not...

Bluemeanie_2

I'm going to be a little bit indulgent and share with you a case I got good success with and the paper actually published it! The Magistrates saw fit to really teach her a lesson. Personally I would have just paid the £80 fixed penalty notice rather than go to court!

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Dog-owner-failed-clear-pet-s-mess-near-Leicester/story-13788452-detail/story.html#axzz2WQ1Vca3Q