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.
4 comments
jill
I know the lady in question,she is a VERY responsible dog owner..On this
particular day the dogs jumped out of the car,and did their “duty” almost immediatley.The lady got out of the car with RUBBER GLOVES ON AND TWO POO SACKS IN HER HAND,AS SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR THE “MAN” CAME OVER TO HER AND ISSUED HER WITH A PENALTY NOTICE.OF COUSE THIS LADY WAS FURIOUS,does this “man” not recognise a lady getting out of her car with RUBBER GLOVES ON,what else did he think she was going to do??? I wonder what else the man thought she was going to do! the mind boggles.I am all for cleaning up after a dog we have one of our own and are also responsible dog owners.Its just a pity that the litter around by the old scout hut hasnt been cleaned up for ages.On the car park at the far end of the park,would you believe is human excrement,who is going to clean that up?certainly not the dirty********* that did it.
Jenny
I’m glad! I’m sick of driving the pram wheels through dog muck then having to store the pram away from my little one in case I have missed cleaning any off.
It did seem like quite a few people took the Christmas period off from poo-scooping duties as Aston Lodge was the worst I have seen it.
I haven’t seen any one on patrol yet so glad to hear they are out there!
With nappy sacks only costing 35p for 300 there really is no excuse. Although more bins may be encouraging?
Dan
It’s a shame the council don’t fine the organisers of the firework display, the fields are also littered with firework casings.