Dog fouling
Our responsibilities
North Devon Council is responsible for enforcing the law which obliges the person in charge of a dog to clean up dog fouling.
Our Dog Warden service carries out this and other functions.
We provide dog bins throughout the district although some of the bins are provided by parish and town councils.
Your responsibilities
Quite apart for being unpleasant, dog faeces can present a serious health hazard particularly to young children.
The person in charge of a dog, whether they are the owner or not, must by law (under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
) clean up after the dog has fouled in any of the following areas:
Our responsibilities
North Devon Council is responsible for enforcing the law which obliges the person in charge of a dog to clean up dog fouling.
Our Dog Warden service carries out this and other functions.
We provide dog bins throughout the district although some of the bins are provided by parish and town councils.
Your responsibilities
Quite apart for being unpleasant, dog faeces can present a serious health hazard particularly to young children.
The person in charge of a dog, whether they are the owner or not, must by law (under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
) clean up after the dog has fouled in any of the following areas:- land which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment).
This includes
- car parks
- grass verges
- recreation and sports grounds
- parks
- river walks
- pavements and footpaths
- gutters and carriageways
- beaches
It is an offence not to clean up, where the Act applies, punishable by a fine or a fixed penalty of up to £75.
When walking a dog always carry a poop scoop or a plastic bag. Then place any faeces in a dog-waste bin or take them home. If this is not possible, double wrap the faeces in two plastic bags and place in a litter bin.
At home, you may wish to set aside a part of your garden and train your dog always to use it. Faeces can then be disposed of in a purpose- dug hole, covering each time with a little soil, or flushed down the toilet. If you don’t have a garden, train your dog to use a tray of fuller’s earth.
When walking a dog always carry a poop scoop or a plastic bag. Then place any faeces in a dog-waste bin or take them home. If this is not possible, double wrap the faeces in two plastic bags and place in a litter bin.
At home, you may wish to set aside a part of your garden and train your dog always to use it. Faeces can then be disposed of in a purpose- dug hole, covering each time with a little soil, or flushed down the toilet. If you don’t have a garden, train your dog to use a tray of fuller’s earth.
To contact the Customer Service Centre:
Telephone: 01271 388870
For Typetalk: precede with 18001
Fax: 01271 388451
Email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk
Textphone (callers must have Typetalk compatible equipment; this number does not support voice communication or SMS): 01271 388786 (during our normal working hours)
Web form: send us a web enquiry
Our office hours are 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.
For further information see the Environmental Health service contact page
