Dog walkers in Shrewsbury are reminded they have a duty to clean up when their pet messes in a public place, or else face falling foul of the law.
The warning comes after a recent prosecution by Shropshire Council following an incident whereby a dog walker was caught allowing the animal to consistently foul on the playing fields at Monkmoor Rec.
The man later gave false information to officers issuing an enforcement notice and the fixed penalty notice that was subsequently issued was never paid.
Despite providing false information, Mr Neil Gilbert, from Shrewsbury, was subsequently identified and prosecuted. He was fined £165 and ordered to pay £150 costs with a £20 victim surcharge at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court on November 29.
Under Dog Control orders, enforced by Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council, it is an offence for a person in control of a dog to allow their dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded. This includes;
- equipped children’s play areas
- fenced off or marked out sporting areas
- fenced off war memorials
- dog-free areas in specified open spaces
In addition, the order makes it an offence for a person in control of a dog to fail to clean up after their dog has fouled on land to which the order applies. The order applies to most publicly accessible land.
Anyone caught breaching a control order will be given an £80 fixed penalty notice. Failure to pay the fine can lead to prosecution, leading to fines of up to £1,000 on conviction.
Helen Ball, Town Clerk said: “Once again Team Shrewsbury has proven how effective team work can be in apprehending this individual who attempted to circumvent the dog control orders in place. The orders are not unreasonably restrictive and the majority of responsible dog owners will already be complying with them. The orders are intended to target the minority of irresponsible dog owners who spoil our beautiful county, causing a nuisance for the rest of us.”
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