Irresponsible dog owners are escaping justice, The Courier can reveal.
Owners who failed to clean up after their pets fouled the city’s public areas have been slapped with 77 fines but more than half of them have not been paid.
According to figures obtained by The Courier, 41 of the fines issued last year have yet to be collected, with 26 people facing court action over failure to pay.
The city council issued fewer than just two fines a week to dog owners over the last financial year and Labour member Richard McCready has called for more to be done to tackle the “disgusting and dangerous” scourge.
SNP environment convener Craig Melville said his team were working hard to tackle the issue, pointing to figures that show a year-on-year increase in the number of notices issued.
He told The Courier: “We realise there’s a problem here.
“We are constantly looking at ways to maximise the number of fixed penalty notices we issue.
“We’ve held a number of public campaigns on the issue and have increased the number of people who are authorised to issue these notices. I think financial penalties are the main tool we have to deter people from failing to clear up.
“We all want the problem to go away and would ask for the community’s support in that, particularly if there’s a bad area, we’d ask them to inform us so we can get an officer there.”
Mr McCready said: “Dog fouling is disgusting but it is also dangerous. Dundee City Council should do all that it can to eradicate this revolting practice from our city. I am surprised about the low number of fixed penalty notices issued across the city. I am astonished that so many of the fixed penalty notices go unpaid.
“The council must ensure that the full force of the law is used against people who insist on letting their dogs foul on our pavements.
“I will be seeking a meeting with officers to discuss the issue.”Please clean up after your special onesClearing dog poo from the pitch is something I can’t help thinking Jose Mourinho doesn’t have to contend with of a Saturdaymorning, writes assistant editor (and girls’ football coach) Dave Lord.
Come to think of it he probably doesn’t have to pump up the balls or put up the nets either.
At least I can console myself with the knowledge he almost certainly isn’t paid as much as me…
As a coach of an under-11s team in Broughty Ferry I willingly give up my time to help get matches up and running.
There is a joy in my heart and a song on my lips as I hammer in a corner flag or sort through the first aid kit. However, having to remove dog poo from the playing surface should surely be beyond the call of duty.
What kind of a person doesn’t clear up after their pet especially when it has fouled in the middle of a football pitch?
The fact that the particular mess I encountered must have been deposited by a Great Dane made an already grisly task even more arduous but that isn’t the point.
This is not the kind of issue that should require punitive fines.
That the council has to issue any penalties is disappointing in itself.
It is, surely, a matter of basic decency.
If you deem yourself responsible enough to care for a dog, you should be responsible enough to deal with all arising issues including the somewhat unpleasant consequences.
It is most annoying to learn that fewer than half of the fines issued by the council have been paid. Those responsible should hang their heads in shame.
As a footnote, it is important to note that poo didn’t stop play and we went on to win the game 8-2.
The kind of result even a certain Mr Mourinho would savour.