Dog and fouling in Purbeck

According to recent surveys the waste left behind by dogs is the single biggest environmental concern that people have about their local area.

Report dog fouling in Purbeck online

You can report an incident of dog fouling in Purbeck online.

Question	Answer
Why is dog fouling an offence?	It is an offence under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 (opens in a new window) if a dog defecates on designated land and the owner, without reasonable excuse, does not remove the faeces from the land.
So where should I clear up after my dog?	In Purbeck the fouling laws apply to all land to which the public have access except: Carriageways with a speed limit of more than 40 mph Land used for agriculture or woodland Land which is predominantly marshland, heath or moor Rural common land
Why should I bother clearing up after my dog?	Apart for making areas unpleasant for its users, dog faeces can be harmful to human health.  There are no excuses, not clearing up is unacceptable.
What is the best way to clean up after my dog?	The best method is to use a doggy bag, or carrier bag, to pick up the faeces, and then this should be tied and placed in a dog bin. If this is not possible then the bag should be taken home and placed in an outside bin.
What can I expect to happen if I'm found not to be clearing up after my dog?	If you are found allowing your dog to defecate and not clearing up after it, then you will be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Are there any exceptions from the Fixed Penalty Notice?	The main exception to this legislation is for a blind person in charge of a dog which is being used for that person's guidance. There are no specific exceptions for the partially sighted, the elderly or the infirm, or for persons under the age of 16.
Am I responsible if I'm walking someone else's dog that fouls?	Yes, the legislation applies to 'the person in charge of the dog'.
What can I do to stop people allowing their dogs to foul in my area?	You can report an incident of fouling online- this goes direct to Public Health & Housing Services at Purbeck District Council. There are a few simple rules to follow when reporting an incident; Be as specific as possible when describing where the incident has occurred    Provide us with a specific description of the dog(s) involved Please supply us with your contact details, as they will be needed in processing Fixed Penalty Notices or in some cases court proceedings We are only able to issue a penalty notice based on the information you provide, If you are willing to provide a witness statement and/or attend Court in the event of subsequent legal action.

Dog Fouling facts and figures

• Estimates put the current UK dog population at between 6.5 and 7.4 million, all of which produce around a 1,000 tonnes of faeces every day

• In just a week the UK's dog population would fill 3 Olympic size swimming pools full of faeces

• Currently there are around 1.2 million dog bins in Britain

• Name: Public Health & Housing Services (Purbeck)
  Email: envservices@purbeck-dc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01929 556561
  Fax: 01929 557351
  Full details for Public Health & Housing Services (Purbeck)