DOGS FOULING in public places, remains one of the issues that is certain to cause annoyance and heated discussions amongst local residents.
Heather Hairsine told us on Facebook yesterday:
“Having recently become a dog owner and can now take our puppy for a walk. I am absolutely disgusted at the amount of dog dirt that I’ve seen on the paths in Hedon especially around the Inmans estate. Not sure whether it would help but maybe more dog dirt bins are required in Hedon is this something that the Hedon Blog could put to the council?”
This sparked a flurry of comments from irate residents:
Gemma said “Inmans estate is absolutely disgusting!!! I’m so sick of playing ‘dodge the dog poo’ every day on the school run!!! I can’t let my 3 young kids walk on the grass and I’ve even been greeted with piles of the stuff outside my front gate”
Andy said: “And to think it can cause blindness in children? It’s worrying whilst kids are playing out.”
The East Riding Council says to report people seen allowing their dogs to foul, but Julie says that’s easier said than done: “Apart from following them home you don’t know who they are.”
Nicola comments: “We’ve got bins and floor painted signs all round Thorngumbald – made very little difference to useless owners!!”
One resident who did not wish to be named said she saw a woman walking four or five dogs along the Hedon Haven drain. She cleared up after one of her dogs – and then hung the bag on a bush and left it!
So what is the advice from the East Riding Council? The council’s website says:
If you want to report dog fouling, and you know the offender or when the fouling is happening, the dog warden team can investigate this. You can report dog fouling online (opens in new window) or by calling (01482) 396301 with the details of your complaint and somebody will be able to give you further advice. Please be aware that this is for reporting an incident of dog fouling only.
The Online Form says that you must provide full details otherwise the council cannot respond/investigate. All requests will be handled in confidence.
If you wish to arrange for dog fouling you have noticed in a public area to be cleaned up, you can do so by completing the online Street sweeping request form (opens in new window).
Can all litter bins be used for dog waste?
Yes, all of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s litter bins can be used for the disposal of dog waste. Please be sure to bag the waste first.
How do I get a new litter bin?
Funds within East Riding of Yorkshire Council are very tight, particularly with the current economic climate. The very limited funds set aside for litter bins is for maintaining the stock of bins we currently have, therefore no applications for new litter bins will currently be considered.
If you really feel there is a pressing need for a new litter bin in your area, you could approach your local Parish or Town Council and see if they are willing to pay to have one put in.
But what else might be done to stop or discourage irresponsible dog owners?
One idea is to keep an incident diary. So for example if you regularly see someone acting irresponsibly then remember the details; who, what, where, and when – and write that up in a diary afterwards. The times that incidents take place is important if a dog warden or council official is to follow-up with an enforcement visit.
A good publicity campaign could help too. As well as regular articles and warnings in the press, a local campaign group could be formed that might decide to act by highlighting the scale of the problem down a particular street or area. A Day of Action might involve using temporary dyes to spray a red circle around individual dog poo piles on pavements. Where bags of poo are regularly dumped or hung, temporary signs or flags could be placed or hung saying “We’re on to you! No dog poo here!” or something similar.
Personally confronting irresponsible dog owners or photographing them is best avoided – but as regular offenders are caught and prosecuted by the council, then a public name and shame campaign might have some effect on deterring others.
Education: Having dog wardens and others speaking to the children in the local schools is something that has been done before, and can help educate them – and their parents – on the health risks associated with dog mess and being a responsible dog owner.
Have readers got other suggestions on what might be done to tackle this problem? Let us know – leave a comment!
Would you be willing to take part in a campaign group to help tackle this issue?
I have 2 dog’s i walk 3 times a day and see dog poo where ever i go (i have yet to see who the culprit/culprit’s is) Inmans is the worst atm with a rather large dog leaving most of the mess! It has certainly become worse as the night’s have drawn in hence they are out on an evening when no one see’s them, if i can manage to pick up from 2 dog’s why on earth is are some people not doing so, there are plenty of bins about the place so there is no excuse…..More signs about dog fouling and prosecution could help i think…… I have taken pictures today and posted them to the councils website and put in a dog fouling complaint.
This has just arrived from the East Riding Council press office – headlines indeed! Since this article was written 16 fixed penalty notices have been issued by the council:
I think some of these dog owners believe in the Dog Poo Fairy.
Those that bag the poo and hang it in trees are the worst offenders, what is the point of doing that, it’s worse than just leaving it. Why put it in a bag that takes 1000 years to bio degrade?
As the owner of one of Hedon’s most famous canine residents (Jack the Johnson’s Labrador!) I’ve been getting increasingly frustrated with the amount of dog fouling around the town, both along the bridlepaths and pavements. Jack is 10 this year and there has recently been a marked increase in the number of people not cleaning up their mess. Neil, you’re right about irresponsible owners – it seems everyman and his dog has a dog (!) these days but not all of them seem to understand what is required when it comes to either training their pet (lots of idiots letting badly behaved dogs off lead in public spaces) or the need to pick up their doings. It’s just good manners but judging by the amount of litter and – yuk – phlegm deposited on our paths these niceties are sadly lacking in a certain section of our townsfolk.
It’s a shame that these ignoramuses are giving decent dog walkers a bad name – many of us do clean it up (I climb into ditches and hedges if I have to!) and it is absolutely infuriating that every walk ends in a cricked neck from looking down to dodge the c**p. But what to do? Patrols may help but I think the culprits are out very early or late. It’s rare you actually see them ‘in the act’ – I did once challenge one but got a mouthful in return. On the other hand, a chap gave my friend a real rollicking for not cleaning up until said friend produced his nice full bag…got to get your facts right!
The only way is to impose a on the spot fine, iam sick to death of having to walk back and forth on ketwell lane getting it all over the pram, then it gets inside the house. Its dangerous for goodnes sake it has parasites in it that can make u go blind.
I asked the East Riding Council for some information on Dog Fouling enforcement action in the area; they have opted to process that as a Freedom of Information request. This is the text of the letter they have sent;
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Rights of Access Request
I write to acknowledge your recent application to East Riding of Yorkshire Council for access to information under the above Act the details of which are set out below.
Details of Request:
Dog Fouling Statistics
Following discussion on the Hedon Blog about dog fouling problems in the area, it was suggested that I try to obtain some information on the number of prosecutions, penalty notices or other enforcement actions against irresponsible dog owners.
Is it possible to get the statistics for such enforcement actions in the South West Holderness ward for the last one or two years?
The publication of these figures could serve as a warning to others who fail to clear up after their dogs.
Hope that the council is able to provide these local statistics (or at least from across the whole of the East Riding) and re-assure residents that the issue of dog fouling is being taken seriously.
You have a right to have the existence of the information requested either confirmed or denied unless the Council claims an Absolute Exemption under Part II of the Act. Officers are currently establishing whether the information requested is held and I will write to you with the Council’s response by 11 February 2014 which is 20 working days following receipt of your request.
Responsible dog ownership is the key, until the government introduce some sort of licence and some sort of laws regarding breeding and selling dogs im afraid this problem will always be around. Its too easy to take a dog on, a lot of people don’t even consider poo bags, walks,vet bills and a great many more costly requirements involved with keeping a dog. Its very difficult for anyone to approach an intimidating character and tell them to pick up there dogs poop…however if there was some sort of licence at least this may narrow it down for the authorities to look into the matter. Persistent offenders should be banned from keeping dogs.
irresponsible owners giving all dog owners a bad name again!!
It really is disgusting and it’s everywhere.
I walk mine mainly on the bank and along public footpaths, i do clean up/bag mine but if i’m going to be walking back the same way i’ll leave the bag and collect it on the way back, so don’t assume because a bag has been left that it won’t be collected a short time later. it just saves me carrying it for miles!
Likewise I often hang a bag up to collect on way back from walk. I have occasionally forgotten it though. If that happens I go straight back out for it. In always careful to make sure nobody sees me hang it up. I know what people assume but as you say there NOT always right