DOG owners in Monmouthshire have been urged to pick up after their dogs in order to avoid a public health problem.
The impact of pet fouling in Monmouthshire is being highlighted following an awareness day aimed at showing how dog mess can blight communities.
It comes after Monmouthshire County Council joined forces with Caldicot Town Council and Goytre Fawr Community Council to organise dog fouling awareness days in Caldicot and Goytre last week.
During the awareness day the council’s environmental health, and waste and street cleaning teams, and the town and community councils spoke to dog owners, handed out free dog poo bags and put up signs to raise awareness of the issue.
Although nine out of ten dog owners act responsibly and clean up after their pets in public areas, the one out of ten who don’t have a negative impact on green spaces and parks.
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Dog fouling continues to be one of the most frequently reported and contentious environmental issues and the focus this time was on sports pitches and areas where children play.
These are areas where children, young people and adults can most easily come into contact with dog faeces left on the ground.
The council say it is "imperative" that people pick up dog mess "to prevent it becoming a public health problem".
Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for environmental health, Cllr Lisa Dymock, said: “Our focus needs to remain on this issue as reports of incidents continue, particularly in children’s playgrounds and our sports and leisure areas, putting the health of our young people at risk.
"These awareness days remind all dog owners, especially as we enter the darker winter months, of the importance of the simple message - bag it and bin it.”
Local authorities and Gwent Police are empowered to issue fixed penalty notices and owners failing to pick up their pet’s excrement face a £75 on the spot fine.
If the person refuses to pay, and the case is taken to court the offender may be fined up to £1,000.
Dog owners failing to pick up can be easily reported to the council at monmouthshire.gov.uk/home/streets-parking-and-transport/recycling-and-waste/dogfouling
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