Dog walkers reminded to take responsibility for their pets this Spring

North East Lincolnshire Council is launching a new Spring campaign to tackle dog fouling and irresponsible dog ownership.

Officers are putting up new signs in parks and other places to remind dog owners to pick up after their pets.

People are also being encouraged to submit reports about dog fouling problem areas so enforcement officers can target their patrols more effectively.

Problem areas

Enforcement officers are patrolling areas where people are reporting dog fouling problems, including:

• Sea Wall between North Promenade and Fuller Street
• Cleethorpes Country Park
• Grimsby Cemetery
• Cleethorpes Cemetery
• Second Avenue, Grimsby
• Sutcliffe Avenue, Grimsby
• Wybers Wood Estate
• Weelsby Woods and several parks are among other places where people have reported dog fouling problems.

Officers are putting up signs in problem areas to remind people to pick up after their pets or face a fine.

New Public Space Protection Orders introduced in 2019 gave the Council more powers to deal with irresponsible dog owners.

A borough-wide PSPO covers not picking up dog mess, not carrying the means to pick up after your dog and to put your dog on a lead when told to do so by an authorised officer.

Officers are making spot checks to make sure dog owners have the means to clear up. They can issue a ticket if dog walkers are not prepared. All officers wear uniform and carry an identification card.

There are also PSPOs for specific areas with conditions that exclude dogs from play areas and keeping dogs on leads during organised events.

Cleethorpes Beach

The Council is also reminding dog walkers to avoid the main tourist beach in Cleethorpes from Good Friday.

Dogs are not allowed on the central beach between Cleethorpes Leisure Centre and Wonderland from Good Friday to 30 September.

Report dog mess problems to the Council using an online form at www.nelincs.gov.uk/dog-mess.

Remember to include details such as the location and the time of day when making a report.

Cllr Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities at the Council, said:

“As the lockdown begins to lift and the weather improves, we do not want people stepping in dog mess when they visit parks, the beach or other areas.

“Most dog owners take their responsibilities seriously, it’s a shame that a careless few spoil it for the rest of us.

“Enforcement officers are routinely stopping dog walkers to check they have bags to pick up after their pet. They will fine people £100 for not having the means to pick up, not picking up after their dog or not putting their dog on a lead when told to do so.

“If dog fouling is a problem in your area, please use our online form to report it.”

PSPO

A fixed penalty notice can (FPN) be issued to any person who breaches a PSPO, giving them an opportunity to avoid prosecution by paying a fixed penalty of up to £100.

FPNs are issued as part of North East Lincolnshire Council’s contract with Doncaster Council.

Anyone found guilty of an offence in the Magistrates’ Court is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level three on the court’s standard scale of fines (currently £1,000).