Dog Days

Do you use the road, pavement or someone else's garden as a toilet?

I imagine the answer is 'no'.

So why are there people who treat the areas around them as one?

I refer to the irresponsible dog owners who seem to have taken in particular to using the areas around New Christ Church School and the Aveley Walk childrens' play area as open toilets.  The fact that it is dog mess being left does not make it any better.

Over the weekend I walked the area with other Liberal Democrat campaigners and was shocked at the way just about every street and walkway had been smeared.  I've just come back from an Environmental Visual Audit with the police and Council's Streetcare team, and we noticed just the same thing.

One patch of land in particular was bad enough that I couldn't attach the photo of it - it was obscene.

PCSOs and Council officers have powers to issue an on-the-spot fixed penalty for anyone caught in the act - of £75.  Put an extra 0 on the end of that and you would begin to get near the sort of penalty I'd like to see these people given.

Maybe these dog owners want to give children toxocariasis, tapeworms, crysptosporidiosis, campylobacter or one of the other diseases contained in dog faeces?

Not all dog owners behave in this way, but there are plenty of less harmful activities where public outcry leads to real action much tougher than a £75 fine.

Meanwhile I'm demanding the Council takes action to put dog mess bins up in areas where it's clear they are needed, and does use its powers to fine the disgusting individuals who let their dogs foul our streets and pavements. 

Comments

[dog insurance]

perhaps dog owners needs to be educaed about not just how anti-social and disgusting dog fouling is but also the dieases that come with it. perhaps they will act better when they know if could affect them as well, not just the people around them.