Your City Council
FOULING
Are you fed up with dog mess on the street? How many times have you walked in it? How many times have you complained to friends, family or local authorities? The situation doesn’t improve.
Under the Litter Order (N.I.) 1994 it is illegal for anyone in charge of a dog not to clean up after the animal. All dog faeces must be removed from public places.
Dog fouling is a complex and emotive issue. Look in any local newspaper and you will see a catalogue of complaints. Many will direct their wrath at local councils for not promptly removing the mess – rather than at the root cause of the problem: irresponsible dog owners who show every contempt for their environment and neighbours. Ironically those who profess to be offended by dog fouling are often the offenders.
Punishment
Like any crime, dog fouling is punishable. If detected allowing your dog to defecate without cleaning up the owner (or the person in charge of the dog at the time) may face an on-the-spot fine of £50. The owner (or person in charge of the dog) is given the choice of paying it or going to court. If taken to court and found to be guilty of the offence the owner could then be subject to a maximum penalty of £500 plus court costs.
Council Action
Councils are forced to clean up dog waste as a necessary measure in protecting the local community from the dangers of infective dog faeces.
Keep Lisburn Clean!
Every year Lisburn City Council spends thousands of pounds on street cleaning and enforcement action, money that could be better spent enhancing our City if only all dog owners ‘scooped the poop’!
Dog owners should automatically bring a poop-scoop or disposable plastic bag with them when leaving home with their dog.
Lisburn City Council is very aware of the problems this anti-social behaviour brings and is keen to deter offenders. To this end a number of measures have been put in place to promote a more responsible attitude towards dog ownership and apprehend those who continually act in an irresponsible manner.
- Patrols at peak times – early mornings and evenings when owners are most active with dogs.
- Provision of litter bins to dispose of the used poop-scoops.
- Visits to schools and community groups – educating children and adults in the importance of dog care and control.
REMEMBER – IF PROPERLY SECURED YOU CAN DISPOSE OF YOUR POOP-SCOOP IN ANY BIN!
DON’T GIVE LISBURN A BAD NAME
CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG!