Pet owners warned to clear up dog dirt (From The Advertiser Series)

Pet owners warned to clear up dog dirt

1:57pm Sunday 10th March 2013 in News

DOG owners are being targeted as part of a month long campaign aimed at encouraging owners to pick up after their pets.

Durham County Council is running the project which is trying to make streets and neighbourhoods dog dirt free.

As part of the campaign the council’s neighbourhoods wardens will carry out patrols to catch offenders.

Free waste bags are available to dog owners in most areas to encourage them to clear up after their dogs.

The council states that the majority of dog owners are tidying up after their pets but a small minority will not.

Ian Hoult, neighbourhood protection manager at the county council, said: “We’re very pleased with the campaign’s achievements so far.

“Only a small number of owners don’t clear up after their dogs and we would urge people to keep reporting details of offenders which will help us catch them and keep our environment clean.”

As part of its on-going campaign to target dog owners failing to clear up after their pets the council has held school assemblies to get the message across.

It has encouraged dog owners to sign up to a green dog walkers scheme whereby the pet owners pledge to clear up after their pet and also to carry extra bags for owners without any.

Residents are being urged to report dog fouling to the council providing details such as the time and date of the incident as well as a description of the dog and owner if possible.

To report dog fouling call 03000-261-000 or visit durham.gov.uk/dogfouling to report online.