Council considers dog ban in children’s play areas
Waste company Veolia has pledged to remove dog mess from streets within six hours. - Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images
Dogs could be banned from children’s play areas and fenced sports areas in an attempt to reduce fouling in Tower Hamlets.
The initiative is one of five dog control orders being considered by the council to give them greater powers to tackle irresponsible pet owners.
The proposals would enable the council to fine dog owners who allow their pet to foul on public land, have their dogs off the lead on the highway or in car parks, or are in control of more than four dogs.
It would also become an offence not to put your dog on a lead when asked to do so by a council officer during a face-to-face situation, such as when a dog is causing, or is likely to cause a nuisance.
Residents can comment on the plans during the consultation period, which runs until March 6.
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The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 2006 states that dog walkers must clean up immediately after their pet has fouled and failure to do can result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
In Tower Hamlets, a team of four dog wardens patrol the borough seven days a week and watch dog owners to see if they act responsibly.
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These include plain clothes and vehicle patrols to check whether dog owners are complying with the law with suspects reported to the council for legal action.
If a dog fouls whilst out unattended and the owner is found, the owner can be prosecuted under the 1996 Act as he or she is held responsible for the activities of the dog at all times.
Contact with dog poo can result in toxocariasis - a nasty infection that can lead to dizziness, nausea, asthma and even blindness and seizures.
For more details of the consultation, visit www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/consultation
