Dog owners warned to pick it up or pay the price
HAREGATE JUNIOR YOUTH CLUB
YOUTH CLUB POSTERS PREVENT FOUL PLAY
Dog owners warned to pick it up or pay the price
RESIDENTS in Leek are being urged to‘ see it, report it’ in a bid to tackle dog fouling.
Young people at Haregate Junior Youth Club recently ran a poster competition, supported by Your Moorlands, to highlight the problem.
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is now leading a campaign in the community to remind people of the importance of cleaning up after their pets and the possible health and financial consequences of failing to do so.
Signs with the‘ see it, report it’ messages will be erected to encourage people who see pet owners failing to do so to report it.
Councillor Gill Burton, cabinet member for communities at the council, said:“ Dog fouling is not just unpleasant and anti-social, it can actually lead to eye problems and even blindness and children are at
36 Leek Life July / August 2013 particular risk.
“ Fortunately, instances of this are uncommon but the risk is very real and that’ s why we’ re urging people to behave responsibly and either clean up after their pet or report it if they witness people not doing so.”
Last year the council’ s enforcement officers issued 30 fixed penalty notices of £ 80 to people who failed to pick up after their dogs and 337 reports of dog fouling in the district were received. The cost of responding to these reports is in excess of £ 5,000 per year.
Councillor Burton added:“ Our enforcement officers are doing a great job but they obviously can’ t be every where at once. By working together with local people we can make a big difference and improve our outdoor areas for the benefit of everyone.”
Anyone witnessing incidents should report them on Tel. 0345 605 3014.