‘DIRTY’ dog owners who do not clear up after their pets are facing a crackdown of fixed penalty fines on Portland.

The Portland Gas Trust has teamed up with the borough council’s dog warden and the island ranger to target irresponsible owners with a new campaign.

Dog owners are being educated that they must pick up after their dogs and dispose of the bags in bins or face a £75 fixed penalty fine or pay up to £1,000 if they are taken to court.

Trustee at Portland Gas Trust Rachel Barton, dog warden Ian Lewis and Portland’s Coastal Ranger, Lyn Cooch will be out and about on the island over the next few weeks, talking to dog owners about the current legislation and handing out free information leaflets, car stickers and bags to scoop up dogs’ mess.

The materials have been funded by a grant from Awards for All, with a contribution from the Wild about Weymouth and Portland project.

Mrs Barton said: “We are doing this because The Portland Gas Trust is committed to local initiatives that support education, geology and the environment.

“Dog mess poses a health risk to children and adults, as well as spoiling the beautiful landscape of the island.

“We actually went out ourselves, rolled up our sleeves and scooped up 30 bags of dog poo in a small patch of land in the New Ground area of Portland.

“It is important to say that we are not against dog owners – people just need to be aware of the legislation regarding dogs.

“We have also put stickers on three new litter bins that will be found on the island at Tout, New Ground and Portland Bill, all popular dog walking locations.

“The bins have been paid for by funds raised by the Portland Dog Show last August, the Crown Estate and Wild about Weymouth and Portland.”

Dog owners have welcomed the move.

One pet owner, Jane Davis from Weymouth, who was out walking her dogs Ruby and Paddy, said: “People who don't pick up after their dogs are disgusting and give dog owners a bad name. There’s no dirty dogs, just dirty owners.”

• Find out more about the campaign by calling Rachel Barton on 01305 824144.

£75 fine for failing to scoop poop

dog control orders are in force in Weymouth and Portland under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

The fouling of land by dogs order applies to all open-air publicly-accessible land.

If a dog owner fails to clean up after their animal they could face a £75 fixed penalty fine.

• To contact the dog warden call 01305 838000.