Councillors kicking up stink to get dog owners to pick up their mess (From Dorset Echo)

Councillors kicking up stink to get dog owners to pick up their mess

11:30am Tuesday 12th February 2013 in News By Harry Hogger

COUNCILLORS and residents are kicking up a stink over irresponsible dog owners in Dorchester.

Town councillor David Taylor has repeatedly called on pet owners to clear up after their animals but claims, despite those efforts, problems with dog mess are actually getting worse in many areas of the town.

He said: “It’s getting more and more and we are seeing it all over the town, in places of beauty and visitor points.

“Residents are getting particularly outraged and I am being contacted daily.

“We are asking people to bag their dog waste and bin it, it’s actually a public order offence not to.”

Coun Taylor added: “It’s not the dogs’ fault, it’s the owners – they are being irresponsible.”

Fellow town councillor Dave Roberts described owners who fail to clear up after their pets as ‘antisocial’ and called on West Dorset District Council to take action on offenders.

He added: “It’s not only in Dorchester, you’ve got it in Weymouth, Portland and Bridport, it’s just becoming more and more.”

One of the areas the councillors claim has been getting worse is the walk along the River Frome.

Jacqueline Jacobs, who lives near the walk, said: “I’m infuriated when I come out the gate and there are piles all the way along the river.

“There are old people who have got to use shopping trolleys, as people with babies in their prams, and there is no way they can avoid it as well.

“It’s a beautiful walk and it’s disgraceful what’s happening.

“I have got a dog but I always take loads of bags wherever I go.”

Her husband, Tony, added: “Unfortunately with these areas that are very popular for walking dogs it’s the obvious place for people to take their dog to defecate.

“They actually bring them here just to do it.

“This is a cracking town and a fantastic place but there are just some people who have no feeling for it at all.”

Town and district councillor Stella Jones said dog fouling was a national problem and a message needed to get through to dog owners that they must take responsibility for their pets.