image source, Getty Images
- author, stephen mackenzie
- role, BBC Scotland News
It's been more than 20 years since the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act was introduced, but how much of a problem is dog fouling today?
The Scottish Government and Parliament say that while most dog owners behave responsibly, concerns are being raised about the number of people who do not pick up after their pets.
Can dog owners be fined if they don't pick up poop?
According to MSP Christine Graham's Dog Welfare (Scotland) Bill, introduced last year, the increase in dog ownership in Scotland since 2020 has been partly driven by so-called “pandemic puppies”. It is said that there is.
People who were forced to work from home due to coronavirus restrictions in 2020 and 2021 were also among those who bought new pets.
image source, Getty Images
The Dog Filth (Scotland) Act 2003 gives powers to the police and council to deal with such matters.
Applies to all public open places such as roads, paths, parks and sports fields.
Dog owners should clean up after their pets and properly dispose of their waste.
Anyone who fails to collect their dog could be given an £80 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).
If the fine is not paid within 28 days, it will increase to £100.
The law has a number of exceptions, including guide dogs, and does not apply to agricultural land.
How many fines were issued for dog filth?
Number of dog fouling reports received by Perth and Kinross Council and FPN able to issue
The situation across the country varies.
Local authorities in Aberdeenshire said the law only allowed them to issue fines if foul play was witnessed.
“And as you can imagine, this is not always possible,” the spokesperson said.
“Ultimately, it is the responsibility of dog owners to clean up after their pets, and we are encouraged by the fact that the vast majority of dog owners do so.”
Moray Council said it frequently receives reports of filthy areas, but no details about who the dog's owner is.
It added that, like many other councils, it did not have the resources to centrally monitor dog fouling.
East Dunbartonshire Council stressed that it would be unfair to focus solely on the number of FPNs issued as a measure of the efforts of community wardens.
“This is just one tool; their powers are much broader than enforcement duties and issuing fines.
“As well as our enforcement efforts, wardens work diligently to raise awareness and change behavior about local safety issues such as dog filth.”
Dog filth on Charles Street, Crown, Inverness
Keep Scotland Beautiful is concerned the problem persists. This article highlighted how some dog owners keep their dog's waste in bags but don't dispose of it properly.
Chief Executive Officer Barry Fisher said: “Dog waste is the most disgusting litter on our roads and parks.
“It's dirty and unpleasant.”
Concerns have also been raised in the Scottish Borders, where local councils received 94 complaints and issued six FPNs last year.
Kelso City Governor Gavin Horsburgh said the situation there was so bad that he wanted to change the law to prevent dog walkers from entering football fields.
He said: “Recently, a game had to be stopped because the coach had to pick up the dog's mess.
“I really don't like it.”
Why do some dog owners never clean their dogs?
Warning sign on farmland in Inverness
Zazie Todd, author of the book Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, said the study highlighted differences in the way dogs think about dirt.
“We all agreed that in an urban setting like a park, you should be picked up,” she says.
“But when it came to open countryside and farmland, there was a sizeable minority of people who thought that actually it didn't matter, it didn't need to happen.
“I think this suggests that people are thinking about the impact on other people who use the area. They're not really thinking about the environmental impact.”
A study by Lancaster University also found that a small number of people don't follow their dogs because they're embarrassed to be seen holding a poo bag.
What can you do?
image source, west dunbartonshire council
West Dunbartonshire Council has previously experimented with spray painting dog poo to highlight dirt.
Various attempts have been made to encourage responsible behavior.
The city council is currently looking to support dog owners by issuing 4 million free dog waste bags each year.
Dundee City Council said tackling the mess was part of its 'Take Pride in Your City' campaign.
In North Ayrshire, the council has modified standard bins to double their capacity to handle dog waste.
Inverclyde Council is stenciling a no dog fouling message onto the pavement.
The Scottish Government said the legislation it had enacted gave Parliament the powers it needed to tackle this issue.
The spokesperson added: “The Scottish Government works with Police Scotland, local authorities, the SSPCA and other partners to encourage responsible dog ownership and keep communities safe.”
