Man fined for dog fouling offence

A man has been fined £75 for failing to clean up after his dog.

Council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in Cross Hands Retail Park at the time of the offence.

The 62-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the officers he didn’t have any bags on him to clean it up.

He was issued with a fixed penalty notice as a result. Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and maximum fine of £1,000.

It is now hoped this fine will act as a warning to others.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across Carmarthenshire and will not hesitate to fine people who break the law in this way.

“Dog mess left anywhere is a serious health risk and cleaning up the county is a top priority for the council.”

Cllr Jones is calling on the public to help the council catch those responsible as part of a ‘Dog Watch’ scheme.

He added: “Most dog owners are responsible and pick up after their pets; however, there is a small minority who do not listen. One of the main reasons for this is because they think there isn’t a council officer watching; but if the message gets out that the general public can take direct action to report offences, dog owners are far more likely to behave responsibly.”

To report dog fouling please call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567 or complete the online form at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk