Dog owners without poo bags could face fines

Dog owners who fail to carry poo bags when walking their pets could face fines under new proposals.

Sheffield City Council will consider plans for a "dogs in public spaces protection order", which would allow enforcement officers to take action against owners who fail to clear up after their dogs or let them off the lead near playgrounds and primary schools.

Labour councillor Mark Rusling, who came up with the idea, said he had heard anecdotally that schemes elsewhere had been successful.

"Ultimately, it's the dog owner's responsibility to clear up their dog's mess. It's not our council workers, Amey workers, or members of the public," he said.

Rusling said dog mess on pavements was an "everyday annoyance" that could make people feel unable to use them without constantly watching where they step, the Local Democracy Service reports.

"That can have a serious impact on your day and on your sense of feeling part of the community," he said.

Rusling said the motion would not propose "an army of operatives" around the city "interrogating every dog owner" but instead would make sure everybody was behaving in the same way.

If the plan was approved by councillors, he said part of it would involve evidence gathering of what worked well and what did not in other places.

Katy, who was walking her dog just outside Sheffield city centre, believes dog owners should have to carry poo bags.

She said she always carried them with her, adding: "There's nothing more annoying than dog mess being everywhere, is there?"

A couple, who was walking a dog near Norfolk Park, also said they would support the proposal.

"It just keeps our streets cleaner," they said.

"We pick up our dog poo, nobody wants to tread in dog poo."

The motion is due to be proposed at a full council meeting later.

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