Dog owners blamed for failure to tackle fouling

pets: Council responds to criticism that it is not doing enough to deal with problem

Angus Council has hit back at criticism of its efforts to tackle dog fouling by blaming lazy owners.

Only four fixed penalty notices are being given out in Angus each month with limited resources available to tackle the problem.

Figures released under freedom of information revealed 95 fixed penalty notices were issued in Angus for dog fouling in 2015-16 and 64 up to January this year.

Environmental group Keptie Friends in Arbroath has accused the council of waving the white flag and said the problem was “out of control in so many areas”.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council has limited resources to address dog fouling – the solution to it rests with dog owners.

“Our message is clear – ‘bag it and bin it’.

“There is no such thing as ‘soft targets’ or ‘real’ offenders. Dog fouling is dog fouling.

“It is an offence and we will issue fines to those we witness committing that offence.

“However, we cannot be in every area of Angus every day. Residents are asked to report persistent dog fouling to ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778 so we can target our limited resources to problem areas.”

Keptie Friends started a poster campaign after receiving complaints from parents about children coming home with dog mess on their shoes.

The posters were put up just before Christmas in dog fouling hotspots in Arbroath, Carnoustie and Easthaven.

Jean Stewart of Keptie Friends said: “I have been contacted by so many people from all over the county about how dog fouling is out of control in so many areas.

“It makes me wonder why the council supports the work Keptie Friends and other groups within the county do if they don’t have the wherewithal to back us up?”

A spokeswoman for East Haven Together said: “There are small pockets of success in the battle against littering but it relies on community groups such as those involved in Keep Scotland Beautiful providing intensive and sustained effort to keep their areas clean.

“It seems evident that education and awareness-raising is not achieving the desired change in the littering culture in Scotland.

“However, it is also evident that the level of fine is not acting as an adequate deterrent either.

“Add to that the fact that it is not economically viable for local authorities to pursue non-payment of fines then it is no wonder that we have a major problem in Scotland.”

It makes me wonder why the council supports the work Keptie Friends and other groups within the county do if they don’t have the wherewithal to back us up. JEAN STEWART