A costly “walkies” for one irresponsible dog owner in Rhondda Cynon Taf as the Council’s Streetcare Enforcement Team catch offender in action.

Irresponsible dog owners in Rhondda Cynon Taf are once again being warned about the implications of allowing their pets to stray off for “walkies” on their own.

Amanda Williams of Heol-y-Mynydd, Gilfach Goch was unaware that her dirty dog had decided to take a stroll around the street!

The dirty dog was caught in action by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Streetcare Enforcement Officers and followed home to Heol-y-Mynydd where Ms Williams “welcomed” the dog home.

Ms Williams, aged 37 was then greeted by the Streetcare Enforcement Officers who informed her that her dog had fouled in a public place and under the dog fouling act 1996 owners have to be in control of their pets at all times and remove any mess left in the open air – whether it’s in a playing field, a pavement or a neighbour’s garden, it’s the owner’s problem!

As Ms Williams had failed to be in control of her pet and in doing so the dirty dog had indeed fouled in a public place she was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £75.

The Council’s latest campaign depicts a person returning home only to find that they have an unwanted messy surprise under their shoe, which has now been brought in to their home and on to their lovely white carpet – certainly “no welcome home” this is a very real occurrence thanks to the disgusting irresponsible dog owners who blight our streets, towns and play areas!

Dog waste is not only unsightly and messy, it can have serious health implications for children and adults alike, including toxocariasis.

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

The majority of eco-offenders in the County Borough are often caught allowing their pets to foul near children’s play areas – and the Council is taking action to protect children in the area!

Ms Williams failed to pay the FPN and the case was referred to Magistrates Court.

Ms Williams pleaded guilty via a letter to the court and was fined £75, ordered to pay £100 costs, £30 clean up costs and a £15 victim surcharge – a total of £220.

Since January 2012 a whopping £2,825 has been recovered through the courts as a result of nine dirty dog owners failing to pay their £75 FPN and allowing their dogs to foul on Rhondda Cynon Taf streets.

This is on top of the £36,000 that has been recovered from 523 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) which were issued to individuals who committed acts of environmental crime, which include, dog fouling, fly tipping, littering and cigarette butts. These fines could have been avoided if they had simply bagged and binned their dogs’ waste using the FREE bags and bins provided by the Council.

The Council’s dedicated Streetcare Enforcement team are out in force on foot, bikes and in cars across the County Borough ready to catch offenders and continue a comprehensive crackdown on litter, dog fouling, flyposting, flytipping, graffiti, cigarette butts and waste issues throughout the County Borough. This is to ensure that Rhondda Cynon Taf will be a clean, green and safe community for everyone to live, work and visit.

Over the last 10 months a staggering 51 tonnes of dogs’ mess has been collected by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Streetcare staff.

The majority of that mess was collected from the special bins for dogs’ waste that are installed in communities across the County Borough by the Council in order to deal with the problem.

Nigel Wheeler, Service Director for Streetcare at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said:

“The failure to clean up after your pet is one of the biggest single environmental problems throughout the area of Rhondda Cynon Taf and has a detrimental impact on the environment and human health, especially unsuspecting children.

“The Streetcare Enforcement Team remains committed to combating these blights on our towns and villages. People often don’t realise that allowing their dogs to foul in public places is illegal but these eco-crimes are an eyesore on our County Borough as well as having serious health implications for the community and we must do all we can to eradicate them.”

During the same period the Council’s Enforcement Wardens issued 2882 warning letters in a bid to encourage residents to learn the error of their ways and think twice before they commit the eco-crime!

All the revenue generated from the FPNs are invested back into frontline services, to further improve our County Borough and respond to the priority issues our residents have identified.

The message is clear – eco-criminals in Rhondda Cynon Taf will not be tolerated!

Further information on the services provided by the dedicated Streetcare teams can be found on this website or to get your FREE dog fouling bags call 01443 425001.