It is an offence to allow your dog to foul in a public place. Although most dog owners are aware they have to clear up after their dogs, others are risking fines of up to £1,000. Dog faeces can cause numerous problems to users of parks and sports grounds and nobody likes it left outside their front gate! It can also carry numerous diseases of which the main one is Toxocariasis, which can lead to serious illness, including blindness.
Legislation and enforcement
Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act of 1996, anybody who lets their dog foul land open to public access and does not clear up afterwards can be given a fixed penalty notice. If you get such a notice, you have to pay a £50 fine within 14 days. Otherwise, you could be prosecuted and might be fined up to £1000.
We would rather educate people about responsible dog ownership, but we do have the power to prosecute if necessary.
It can also, in extreme cases, be an offence under the Environmental Protection Act of 1990 to allow large amounts of dog faeces to build up in your garden. Remember - dog faeces will attract flies and will smell in hot weather. Please respect your neighbours' rights and clear up your garden daily.
Dog bins
There are more than 720 dog bins in South Gloucestershire. We will look into any requests for new dog bins but we have limited funds. Sometimes, we can move an existing dog bin that is not well used to a new place.
If you cannot find a dog bin, you can use an ordinary litter bin. If you cannot find any bin, you must take the faeces home, double wrap it in another plastic bag and put it in your household rubbish. Please note that the person who walks the dog is responsible for clearing up its faeces.