Fines Hit Anti-Social Dog Owners

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Plans to halt menace of owners who don’t clean up after their mutts

Plans are being hammered out at the town hall to put a halt to the growing menace of anti-social dog owners who don’t clean up after their mutts.

Hammersmith & Fulham is looking to take the lead on the issue of anti-social dogs by hitting owners with a £75 fine if they fail to clean up their dog's mess, if they walk with more than four canines at a time, if their dog is off its leash in cemeteries and park wildlife areas or if they allow their pets to play in children’s play areas.

Following a public consultation, which has been widely in favour of the scheme, the council will decide whether to proceed with the plans at a meeting on January 22.

Crime & anti-social behaviour cabinet member Cllr Greg Smith is backing the proposals. He says, "The dog control orders will allow council officers to clamp down on the small minority of anti-social dog owners who don't clean up after their pets. We know that 99 per cent of dog owners are responsible people, these orders are designed to tackle the small minority who aren’t.”

Residents from across the borough are also backing the scheme. Katherine Landale, who walks her Norfolk Terrier, Wilber, around Hammersmith, says, “I’m in favour of the control orders. There is nothing in them to concern responsible dog owners.”

Boscomb Road resident Caroline Riddell also backed the plans saying, “I clean up after my dog as all the dog owners I know do. I have witnessed people baiting dogs in Ravenscourt Park and generally being cruel to their animals. If these orders make it easier for parks police to clamp down on these people then I’m definitely in favour.”

Under the proposals dog owners can also be fined £75 if they fail to put their dog on a lead when asked to do so by a council or police officer.

Cllr Nicholas Botterill, cabinet member for environment, says, “Residents are demanding cleaner streets and parks and dog owners who don't take responsibility for their animal’s behaviour will face on the spot fines. We are not asking people to do something that is difficult or impossible, it's very basic and it's very easy to comply with.”

January 26, 2007