Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Cabinet has agreed to extend the existing measures to tackle dog fouling and promote responsible dog ownership across the County Borough for a further three years. The decision follows overwhelming public support for the measures during a recent consultation exercise.
Since the original Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) were introduced in October 2017, they have provided enforcement officers with important powers to tackle dog fouling and irresponsible dog ownership.
During that time, the Council has issued thousands of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for breaches of the Dog Control PSPOs, while evidence also shows a significant reduction in dog fouling on the County Borough's streets compared to levels recorded before the measures were introduced.
The extension will also support the Council's ‘Keep It Tidy RCT’ campaign, which is encouraging residents to take pride in their communities by tackling issues such as dog fouling, littering, fly-tipping and other environmental offences, while ensuring enforcement officers retain the powers needed to act against irresponsible dog owners.
Earlier this year, residents were invited to take part in a six-week consultation on whether the existing measures should be extended beyond September 2026.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with 89% of respondents supporting the Council's approach to tackling dog fouling and the renewal of the PSPOs for a further three years. Support for each individual element of the Order exceeded 88%.
The PSPO will see the following rules continue to be enforced:
- Dog owners MUST clean up their dog's 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.
The Public Spaces Protection Order allows enforcement officers to issue a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice for anyone failing to comply with the conditions of the Order.
A separate PSPO for Aberdare Park will also continue for a further three years. The Order requires dogs to be kept on leads at all times within the park and continues a long-standing control that has existed within the park since the nineteenth century.
Councillor Louisa Addicott, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Capital Infrastructure, said:
"While the vast majority of dog owners act responsibly and clean up after their pets, unfortunately a small minority are still letting their communities down."
"The consultation showed overwhelming public support for these measures, and Cabinet has listened. Extending these powers means we can continue to take action against irresponsible dog owners, protect our public spaces and build on the progress that has been made since the measures were first introduced NINE years ago."
"Most residents are joining the TIDY side, but a few people are still keeping our enforcement teams busy. Extending these powers means our Community Wardens and Enforcement Officers can continue taking action against those who ignore the rules and spoil our parks, streets, sports pitches and public spaces."
"The message couldn't be simpler: Bag it. Bin it. Don't leave it. Through the Keep It Tidy RCT campaign we're encouraging everyone to love where they live, but where education and awareness doesn't work, we will continue to use the powers available to us to crack down on irresponsible behaviour."
Residents are encouraged to report dog fouling online at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/ReportDogFouling so that enforcement activity can be targeted where it is needed most.
Find out where you can and can't walk your dog in Rhondda Cynon Taf at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/walkmydog.
More information on the Keep It TIDY RCT Campaign is available at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/KeepItTIDYRCT
Posted on 21/09/2026