Dog Fouling

It has become evident that some members of the public are allowing their dogs to foul areas of our community especially at Partanhall , Lower Burnmouth and are then not attempting to tidy away the faeces which is an offence under Scottish law - see http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2003/20030012.htm for more details.

What can I do about a dog fouling offence?

To report an offence contact your local authority to find out what the dog control procedures are in your area, and make note of the following details:

• Name and address of the person in charge of the dog

• A description of the dog

• Details of the date, time and location of the offence.

If the fouling takes place at regular times it may be possible for dog wardens to witness the fouling. In most cases the wardens will warn the offender before taking legal action, which is usually enough to deter further offences.

Dog Warden scheme

This is one of the most effective ways of tackling the dog fouling problem. The dog warden has 3 important roles in the community:

• Enforcement - enforcing the legislation relating to dog fouling, dogs in general and local bye-laws

• Educational - to promote responsible attitudes to dog ownership, to develop an understanding of the role of the dog warden and how the public can be supportive

• Practical - handling and securing stray dogs, dealing with problems relating to noisy and nuisance dogs.

What is the best way to clear up after a dog?

Use a doggy bag, or a carrier bag, to pick up the faeces. Ideally, this should then be placed in a designated dog bin. If this is not possible, take the bag home or, as a last resort, double wrap the faeces and put in a normal litterbin. Poop scoops can also be used, they are available from most pet stores.