A YOUNGSTER is urging dog owners to be responsible and clean up after their pets.

Niall Smith, 11, wrote to the Echo after being angered at the amount of dog mess on the Rodwell Trail in Weymouth and wants people to pick up after their pets.

The Chickerell youngster said: “It’s just annoying when you’re out there going for a walk you end up treading in dog mess.”

He added: “If people are going to take their dogs they should make sure they take bags and pick it up. “If they don’t bring bags or anything to clear it up they shouldn’t be walking there.”

Niall, who uses the path about four times a month, said he had the unfortunate experience where he had ridden through dog mess while on his BMX and he said his cousin had fallen off his bike and put his hand in some.

He said: “I know people just want to exercise their dogs. If they’re going to do it up there they should clean up or they should do it somewhere else.”

He added: “If they can’t clear up after them its a bit selfish.”

The schoolboy said he and his sister Lani, eight, and his friends often used the Rodwell Trail but that the dog mess situation had got much worse since the new bridge had opened.

He said that the best bit about the Rodwell Trail was getting out in the fresh air and being able to have a nice walk.

He said his message to dog walkers would be ‘Don’t have a dog if you can’t clean up after it.’ Niall’s mum Lisa Smith said the children liked to use the walk way as it was safe, with no cars.

She said: “Dog owners should be responsible. If they don’t want to pick up dog mess they shouldn’t have a dog.”

Jeanette Guy, Head of Public Health at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said the council took dog fouling very seriously and encouraged people to report offenders.

She said: “We are sorry to hear about this young man’s issue.

“We are very aware of the dog fouling situation along the Rodwell Trail and our dog wardens patrol the area on a weekly basis.”

She added: “The borough council takes dog fouling complaints seriously and our wardens can issue fixed penalty notices if they see owners not picking up after their dog.

“The majority of dog owners in Weymouth and Portland are responsible, but the public can help us by reporting any repeat offenders.”

You can report fouling online

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has adopted the Dogs Fouling of Land legislation which means that dog wardens can issue a fixed penalty fine to any person responsible for a dog that fouls and does not clean up any mess left on designated land.

Owners can also be prosecuted in the Magistrates Court where a fine of up to £1,000 can be imposed. Dog fouling can be reported online at www.dorset foryou.com/dog-fouling