Dog fouling offences costs man £300

A LLANELLI man must pay more than £300 after being convicted of two dog fouling offences.

Sean Hearne, aged 19, from Cae Glas, Felinfoel was convicted in his absence and fined £200, ordered to pay £89.14 prosecution costs plus a £20 victim surcharge.

The court heard that on October 8, 2013 an officer saw a whippet type dog with a distinct brown colouring foul on the pavement in Cae Glas, Felinfoel.

On October 15, 2013, the same officer witnessed the same dog foul on the grassed traffic island in Cae Glas. The officer had seen the dog wandering around Cae Glas and identified that the dog came from Hearne’s property.

A Fixed Penalty Notice was sent to Hearne’s address on October 22, 2013.

Hearne failed to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court to answer the two dog fouling offences and was convicted in his absence to offences contrary to Section 3 of the Dogs Fouling of Land Act 1996.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Unfortunately there is a small minority of dog owners who are just too lazy to clean up after their pets.

“This kind of irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated as dog mess left anywhere is not only extremely unpleasant but can be a serious health risk.”

Cllr Jones is appealing to the public to help catch irresponsible dog owners by reporting them to the council including the date, time and location of the offence as well as a description of the owner and the dog.

Call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567 or complete the online form at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk