In court, a man from Porth was reminded that dogs have absolutely NO BUSINESS on sports fields or pitches in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The man allowed his dog to run freely on Dinas Field, Porth. He was caught by a Council enforcement officer and issued a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), which he later failed to pay.
The Council's latest campaign asks dog owners to do the 'doodyful' thing by cleaning up after their dog has done its business and follow the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) rules.
Today marks International dogs day, a day to celebrate our lovable, furry friends and ensure that we do the right thing for them wherever possible. This includes being a responsible dog owner!
Irresponsible dog owners who decide not to pay the initial £100 FPN face court action and end up with some very costly walkies, as this offender has discovered.
Following court action, this offender was sent home from court with a Fine of £220, ordered to pay Costs of £120 and a Victim Surcharge of £34 – a staggering total of £374!
One of the problems the Council's PSPO, introduced in October 2017, looks to prevent dog fouling on sports fields. Even if the fouling is picked up, remnants of it remain on the grass and soil, which is disgusting and could have serious life-changing health consequences.
For this reason, dogs are BANNED from all schools, children's play areas and marked sports pitches maintained by the Council.
The message from the Council is clear - if an irresponsible dog owner is found breaching ANY of the rules of the PSPO, the Council will take action. They will receive a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice and/or face court action.
The Council recently took action by stencilling TWO simple messages in locations across Rhondda Cynon Taf, including local schools and community centres.
The messages are simple 'NO DOG FOULING' and 'NO DOGS ON PITCHES' and are part of the campaign to crack down on those who ignore the rules in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure said:
"We're committed to tackling irresponsible dog owners and have invested tens of thousands in improving facilities across RCT. There are over 1500 red dog bins in RCT in hot spots/known dog walking routes, and more are on order. There is no excuse not to bag it and bin it!
"The latest conviction demonstrates the Council's dedication to tackling dog fouling issues. If an irresponsible dog owner is found breaching the rules of the PSPO, we will take action and issue a £100 fine.
"If they continuously ignore this, they will face court action being taken, a large fine and a criminal record, as this man has now found out.
"The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but unfortunately, some don't seem to realise that failing to clear up after their dog's mess in public places is illegal, and allowing their dogs to roam on sports pitches can have devastating consequences!
"It's a dirty eyesore on our County Borough and has serious health implications for the community. We must do all we can to eradicate this problem.
"The Council would rather see a clean County Borough and dog walkers acting responsibly rather than issue fines. This could be easily achieved if people follow the clear messages, follow the rules and act responsibly. The rules are there to protect everyone who wants to enjoy our beautiful County Borough."
In the last year (June 2021 to May 2020), the Council has issued over 945 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to those caught littering, fly-tipping, breaking the PSPO and failing to control their waste in Rhondda Cynon Taf. All the revenue generated from the FPNs is invested back in frontline services to improve our County Borough and respond to the priority issues our residents have identified.
For more information on the dog fouling rules in Rhondda Cynon Taf, visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/DogFouling.
Posted on 26/08/2022