Man fined for dog fouling offence dog

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

Council environmental enforcement officers were on patrol in the town at the time of the offence and issued the 57-year-old with a fixed penalty notice.

Failure to pay could lead to prosecution in the magistrates court and a fine of up to £1,000.

Officers have stepped up patrols in the town following a number of complaints of dog fouling, particularly in Parc Stephens.

The situation has become so bad that rugby matches have had to be stopped midway through a game to clean up dog mess on the pitch.

The council hopes this fine will help to send out a message to irresponsible dog owners that dog fouling in public places will not be tolerated.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Dog mess left anywhere is a serious health risk and I am disgusted that people are leaving their dogs defecate on the rugby field and not clean it up.

“The majority of dog owners are responsible, however there is a small minority who do not pick up after their pets and we will not hesitate to fine them.”

A major campaign is underway to clean up Carmarthenshire and residents are being urged to play their part and help the council catch those responsible for dog fouling.

Cllr Jones added: “Our enforcement officers carry out regular patrols across Carmarthenshire, but unfortunately they cannot be everywhere at once and that is where the public come in.

“If you have any information on dog fouling then please let us know as this can then be used by officers to target certain areas.

“If the message gets out that the residents 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