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Council urge dog owners to clean up after their pets

Council urge dog owners to clean up after their pets

Mon, February 03, 2020

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council wants to remind dog owners about the importance of cleaning up after their pets.

Dog foul can present a risk to public health. Toxocara canis is the common roundworm of the dog. Toxocara eggs are present in the faeces of dogs which have not been wormed. If a person comes into contact with contaminated faeces and infected eggs, usually through swallowing, there is a slight possibility of an illness referred to as toxocariasis. The symptoms of this illness may include a cough, a fever, headaches and stomach pain. In rare cases the roundworm larvae may travel to organs in the body including the liver, lungs brain and eyes.

A dog owner is committing an offence, under The Fouling of Lands by Dogs (Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council) Order 2018, if they fail to clean up dog foul.

This Order increases the available fine in Court for dog fouling offences from £500 to £1000. Offenders will also be subject to a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 for the offence of allowing a dog to foul.

All dog foul should be lifted immediately and can be disposed of in any public litter bin. Council officers will be patrolling the Borough to enforce this legislation. Council would also remind the public that they can provide witness statements to Council about any incidents of dog fouling that they observe. These statements can be used to serve Fixed Penalty Notices and prosecute offenders. To report a dog fouling incident in your area please contact Environmental Services Department on 028 2766 0200 or email dogfouling@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk.

Council will be taking a zero tolerance approach to fouling and anyone who is observed failing to remove dog foul will be given a Fixed Penalty Notice. Failure to pay this Fixed Penalty Notice will result in offenders being prosecuted.