Dog walkers given free bags to tackle fouling

The Cherwell District Council dog warden and enforcement officer are patrolling hotspots for dog fouling in Blenheim Road and Bicester Road in Kidlington.

They have been giving walkers free bags to use when clearing up after their dog and have issued one fixed penalty notice that meant a £50 fine for the offender.

Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, it is an offence not to clean up immediately after the dog has fouled.

It can mean a £1000 fine if the offender decides not to take the fixed penalty notice and go to the Magistrates Court.

The patrols were carried out in the early morning, from 6am. The area is often monitored outside normal working hours.

Lloyd Allen, Cherwell District Council's assistant dog warden said: "Not clearing up after your dog can be very annoying, especially if you step in it! There are always health risks associated with dog faeces. The worm toxocara canis can live in the dog's intestines and the eggs can be present in the waste. An infection caused by this worm can, in serious cases result in blindness."

There are around 29 dog litter bins in the Kidlington area supplied by the Parish Council and emptied regularly by Cherwell District Council.

Councillor Kieron Mallon, Cherwell District Council's Portfolio Holder for the Environment said: "The dog waste bins are very well used in the Kidlington area. It's the minority of dog owners that do not clear up after their dogs that give all dog owners a bad name, and we will continue to target those that don't comply."

Dog walkers can pick up free dog bags from either Exeter Hall or Oxford House Newsagents on Oxford Road, Kidlington.