New harder-hitting dog fouling rules have come into force in Rhondda Cynon Taf, in order to tackle the County Borough’s irresponsible dog owners.
Dog fouling is consistently one of the biggest issues raised to the Council by residents – and a consultation earlier this year saw a unanimous verdict in favour of action. Supported by its Sort **IT Out! campaign, the Council has introduced new dog fouling rules to help keep the County Borough clean.
A new Public Spaces Protection Order came into force from October 1, 2017, and the new rules include that:
- Dog owners MUST clean up their dogs’ mess immediately and dispose of it properly.
- Dog owners MUST carry means to pick up dog mess (i.e. bags) at all times.
- Dog owners MUST follow a direction from an authorised officer to put a dog on a lead.
- Dogs are BANNED from all schools, children’s play areas and marked sports pitches maintained by the Council.
- Dogs MUST be kept on a lead at all times in Council maintained cemeteries.
MORE enforcement officers will be out and about from October 1, and irresponsible dog owners could face an increased fine of £100.
The Council will provide a monthly update on social media about the total number of fines issued. We are unable to provide a more detailed breakdown on social media due to the officer time and resource required to gather this information.
New dog mess bins, signs and enforcement officers
Sort **IT Out! gives a clear message to irresponsible dog owners – the Council takes dog fouling issues very seriously, and is putting more resources into catching the culprits.
Dog waste is not only unsightly and messy, it can have serious health implications for children and adults alike, including toxocariasis.
The campaign is being backed by resident Collin Smith, who, at the age of 15 in 1979, suffered a compound leg fracture playing rugby in the Rhondda. The promising Wales under-15s player caught an infection from dog faeces on the playing field, causing his leg to be amputated at his knee.
Around 114 tonnes of dog mess is collected from the streets and bins of Rhondda Cynon Taf every year, while 1,000 bins for dog mess are located across the County Borough. Every year an additional 150 bins are installed in known hotspots across the County Borough.
Where are dogs banned from going?
To find out which areas dogs are banned from, and the nearby areas where dogs must be kept under control, please use the following link –
www.rctcbc.gov.uk/PSPOMaps
Individual maps depicting the new rules at each marked sports pitch, playground, school and cemetery, are also included in the PSPO. Please use this link.
Freequently Asked Questions
View information in response to the most frequently-asked questions about the new dog fouling rules.