Dog fouling
Summary
If you see someone allowing their dog to foul and not clearing up after it then please contact us with the owners' details and where it happened, and we can investigate further. You can also request a "No dog fouling" sign to be put up in places where you know there is or has been a problem with dog fouling.
How to report dog fouling
- Contact us online (link under 'Online forms' below), or by e-mail, telephone or letter (our details are at the foot of this page);
- Information we will need from you:
- your full name;
- your full address including your postcode;
- your home telephone number and a number which we can contact you on during normal office hours if this is different;
- your email address (if applicable);
- how you would like us to get back to you, and;
- details of your complaint (where the dog fouling problem is, name of the dog's owner if known).
Further information
Dogs & worms
Most dogs have worms from time to time. The most common type of worm being the round worm ‘Toxocara Cainis’. These worms can lead to a disease called ‘toxocariasis’, which in extreme cases can cause blindness.
Worm eggs can be picked up on shoes, pram-wheels and hands and then accidentally ingested, especially by young children.
Dog fouling is therefore a potential danger and faeces should be cleared away as soon as possible to prevent the ground becoming heavily contaminated with eggs.
Penalties for dog fouling
The whole of South Norfolk is covered by the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, which makes it an offence not to clear up after your dog on any area of land that is open to the public, with a few exceptions.
Offenders can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £50 or if taken to court the fine is up to £1,000. To say you were unaware that your dog had fouled is not a reasonable excuse, meaning that dogs should be exercised under direct supervision at all times.
Dog Control Areas
In the Spring of 2008 we consulted with people on the possibility of making the whole of the district a Dog Control Area, under the provisions of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005.
Much of the district is already covered by regulations which means anyone in control of a dog has to clear up after it has fouled. The new rules are designed to extend this to any part of the district, in the open air, where the public have access. This will include public footpaths etc.
The penalty for not clearing up after a dog who has fouled a public area could be a £1000 fine on conviction in Court.
Dog bins are provided by Parish and Town Councils and emptied by us. Dog bags are available from your local shop or supermarket, and from some Parish and Town Councils. You can also get them from our council offices in Long Stratton for a small charge.
The consultation closed on 16 June 2008 and the responses are being considered. We will update this page when we have the results.
Contact us
| contact officer/team: | Environmental Support Officer |
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| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | envserv@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| freephone: | Environmental Crime Team 0808 168 2999 |
| telephone: | 01508 533830 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk Council South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
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If you need information in large print, audio cassette, braille, translation (written or verbal) or signed interpretation, let us know when you contact us.
