Council launches campaign to promote responsible dog walking

The launch of Let's Do Walkies Well coincides with the clocks going backwards and the evenings drawing in, which is when a rise in dog-fouling incidents is seen each year. The campaign will use photographs of local people and their dogs at popular dog-walking locations throughout the borough, to encourage everyone to follow the rules to protect the environment and pick up after their dog.

The entire borough is covered by a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which includes a borough-wide offence of dog-fouling on any land to which the public have access. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Environmental Rangers so they can investigate.   

The PSPO also covers dogs on lead requirements and dog bans at specific locations, which are put in place for safety and hygiene reasons thus allowing the public to enjoy the area in question without the nuisance of dog mess and giving dog owners more control over their pets.

The locations where dogs must always be kept on their leads include Great Yarmouth Old Cemetery and the promenade adjacent to the beach between Wellington Pier and Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth between 1^st May and 30^th September each year.

Dogs are banned from entering any council owned or managed fenced play areas, multi-use games areas, skate parks and fitness areas. Exemptions are made for guide dogs that assist those who are registered blind or deaf or those with mobility or physical coordination issues.

Cllr Penny Carpenter, chairman of the environmental committee, said: "We have lots of great places to walk dogs in the borough and most dog-walkers are responsible and follow the PSPO rules. However, we do see an increase in dog-fouling at this time of year. The campaign will help support the work of the Environmental Rangers, who have worked hard to attain 30 successful prosecutions against those who have failed to pick up after their dogs in the last five year."

"As someone who has had dogs since I was young, I am fully aware of the benefits of having one as a pet, for both the owner and dog. As well as the benefits, there is a responsibility to clean up after them on walks, in all weathers."

Anyone who witnesses an environmental crime in the borough or has information that may help to identify an offender should report it via the Love Clean Streets app, available to download free of charge from Google Play for Android or the Apple App Store. What they need is strong evidence - not necessarily photographs. For example, a description of the dog and person walking it, the location, date and time of the incident - and then they can target the right areas or individuals.