Crackdown on irresponsible dog owners continues

Dealing with dog owners that don’t clear up after their pets has been at the heart of a continuing operation conducted by Enforcement officers from Canterbury City Council.

Uniformed officers, and some in plain clothes, have hit dog fouling hotspots across the district to deter irresponsible owners from leaving the mess from their canine companions behind, pick up vital information about when fouling is most likely to take place and to educate the public about the rules and possible fines.

Senior Environmental Enforcement Officer Kevin Corden said: “One of the more unpleasant aspects of lockdown has been an increase in owners not picking up when they should and more people being out and about close to home and spotting that fact, sometimes when it is too late.

“We have spoken to more than 400 people and our presence has been warmly welcomed.

“The fact that we are getting reports that dog bins need emptying more often can only be a good thing.

“This operation shows the lazy and selfish dog walker that you never know when we might be around the corner to catch you in the act and hit you with a fine.”

Among the places targeted were:

• Westgate Gardens, The Green in Chartham, Thanington Rec, Bridge and Westbere in the Canterbury area
• Prospect Field, Joy Lane, Marine Parade, the beach and footpaths down to beach in Whitstable
• The seafront, Hampton and Curtis Wood in Herne Bay

If you know of a hotspot not mentioned here, report a dog poo hotspot on our website. The more information we have, the easier it is to catch people.

And please remember:

•  the vast majority of owners do clean up after their pets, it’s the selfish minority that don’t
•  if you are caught, you will be liable to a £100 fine
•  you can use any of the 1,205 council litter bins to dispose of the poo, it does not have to be a dog poo bin

Published: 19 April 2021