Islington Council has warned irresponsible dog owners they risk a criminal record if they don’t bag and bin their pet’s waste.
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It comes after an owner was taken to court on April 12 for not clearing up after her dog, and then failing to pay a fixed penalty notice for fouling.
At Highbury Magistrates’ Court she pleaded guilty to failure to comply with a dog control order under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. She was fined £100, ordered to pay £66 costs and also to pay a £15 victim support charge.
From next month irresponsible owners face even more risk of being caught, fined or prosecuted as Islington’s dedicated “dog squad” starts work.
The team, thought to be the largest of its kind in Britain, will target owners who refuse to pick up, especially persistent offenders, and hotspots.
Bram Kainth, Islington Council’s director of public realm, said: “Our residents are sick of the small, selfish number of people who refuse to pick up their dog’s waste.
“We have ‘zero tolerance’ for anyone caught – they will be fined and if they fail to pay they will be taken to court, as in this case.
“Our ‘dog squad’ will soon be patrolling the borough – we will be watching out for irresponsible owners, and they will be fined.”
In the recent prosecution the dog walker allowed her pet to foul in Copenhagen Street near the junction with Charlotte Terrace, N1, on the morning of 22 October 2011.
She then walked off without picking up the waste, but was seen by two council staff who challenged her. She accepted a fixed penalty notice for the offence but then failed to pay it, so was taken to court.
The original penalty notice was for £80, reduced to £55 if paid promptly.
Dog owners of all ages are reminded:
* before going out with your pet, always take some plastic bags to clean up waste
* when your pet makes a mess, always clean it up immediately
* put the bag of waste in any rubbish bin
