Dirty dog owner fined by council

A middle-aged woman from Stone has been fined for letting her dogs foul on Westbridge Park.

The woman was given a £75 fixed penalty notice after she didn’t clear up the mess – the first fine to be issued following a new year crackdown by Stafford Borough Council.

The council started evening and dawn patrols last week after an increase in calls in January from residents about people not cleaning up after their pets. The council praised ‘responsible’ owners who have been supplying details of the times and places their selfish counterparts are letting dogs foul.

The offence happened near a footpath at Westbridge Park when the woman was seen letting two dogs out of her car. She did not clean up after them and a council enforcement officer issued her with a fine.

The woman, who has not been named by the council but is from the Valley Road estate, was said to be ‘furious’, claiming she normally cleaned up after her dogs.

Moments earlier an elderly man escaped a fine after being challenged by a fellow dog owner who handed him a bag to clean up the mess near to the park’s football pitch.

Councillor Frank Finlay, cabinet member for environment and health, said he hoped this would send a warning to other irresponsible dog owners. He added: “It’s no use complaining when you get fined. All you have to do is pick up and bag the mess and put it in a bin – any rubbish bin. People are rightly disgusted when you don’t clear up after your dog – especially in such a public area as a park.”

Visit www.staffordbc.gov.uk/dogs for more information on dog fouling. And to report incidents, email info@staffordbc.gov.uk or call 01785 619000.