There is no such thing as a 'dog poo fairy'" in Rotherham!

That is the stark message from Rotherham Borough Council, which is joining a national campaign on dog fouling being led by the Keep Britain Tidy campaign group.

The campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the fact that its up to dog owners to remove their own dogs' mess from the street, but also highlighting the issue up and down the country with people mistakenly thinking that bagging-up dog poo and then leaving it at the side of a path or hanging from a tree is the proper, or acceptable, way of dealing with such waste

The straight fact is that if its left bagged up or just on the floor, someone else then has to come along and clean it away for them. So, the message from both the Council and Keep Britain Tidy is "Bag that poo, any rubbish bin will do".

In Rotherham alone, approximately two tons of dog excrement is cleared from the borough's streets and recreational areas each year because irresponsible dog owners fail to pick up after their animals. A single dog mess can contain about one million toxocara eggs, which can cause a potentially serious infection in humans leading to blindness.

The launch of the new campaign follows a successful year for Rotherham Borough Council and its partners in its fight against irresponsible dog owners and other environmental criminals with the council prosecuting 49 cases in court this year.  Of these, 18 were fly tipping related offences, 20 litterers and eight for dog fouling were found guilty by Rotherham Magistrates. 

Coun. Jahangir Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods for Rotherham Borough Council, said: "We want to get the message across that any public litter bin is suitable for dog waste and we want more people to take responsibility for their pets.  It is only a small minority that blight our neighbourhoods with this unbelievably thoughtless crime."

Although Keep Britain Tidy has recorded a reduction in overall levels of dog fouling since 2001/02, it is still a significant cause of offence amongst the public.

Dog fouling is not only unpleasant it is dangerous. The biggest threat to public health from dog excrement is toxocariasis.

What is Toxocariasis?

Toxocariasis is an infection of the roundworm toxocara canis. The eggs of the parasite can be found in soil or sand contaminated with faeces and if swallowed, result in infection that lasts between six and 24 months. Symptoms include eye disorders, vague ache, dizziness, nausea, asthma and epileptic fits.

Often the eggs are ingested when passed to the mouth by the hands, but this can also occur through contact with dogs or other inanimate objects including the wheels of toys and the soles of shoes.

Infected soil samples are often found in play areas and as a result, Toxocariasis most commonly affects children between 18 months and five years.

Whose responsibility is it to clear away dog fouling? 

It is the the responsibility of the dog owner or the person in charge of the dog to clear up any dog foul left by their dog. If you fail to clean up after your dog you can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice, or if the case goes to court a fine of up to £1,000.00.

The regulations state specifically, that being unaware that the dog has fouled, or not having a suitable means of removing the faeces is not a reasonable excuse for failing to clean up after your dog.

If someone fails to clean up after their dog, the council will clear dog fouling from public places that it has a legal responsibility for. Over 90 per cent of councils have dog wardens and over 80 per cent of councils provide dedicated dog waste bins.