St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s animal warden service is using CCTV cameras to help identify a mystery dog walker who has been allowing their dog to consistently foul various areas along Haverhill High Street.
The cameras were installed after the problem of dog fouling escalated a year ago around the area of Henderson’s news agents on Haverhill High Street. Shop and office workers found themselves having to tread carefully in order to avoid the dog mess, before the Council’s street cleaners arrived to clear it away.
Council animal warden Sharon Poole believes they are close to finally revealing the identity of this mysterious dog walker:
“The CCTV cameras have proved to be invaluable over the last year and have revealed that the fouling around Henderson’s news agents is occurring between the hours of 9pm and 7am. We have already caught several people on tape who are not clearing up their dog’s mess but further examination of these tapes should tell us more.”
The animal wardens are constantly promoting responsible dog ownership, including carrying an empty bag with you at all times so the mess can be cleared up and disposing of it hygienically in a dog waste bin or at home in your dustbin. However this message is clearly not getting through to a minority of irresponsible dog walkers who do not think of the consequences of their actions.
Apart from the obvious nuisance and health risks associated with dog fouling, in particular the dangers of exposing children to ‘toxicara canis’, it is an offence under the St Edmundsbury Borough Council Dogs (Fouling of Land) Order 1998, not to clean up after your dog has fouled. It is also worth remembering that dog owners who are caught not clearing away their dog’s faeces are liable to a fixed penalty of £50 or a fine in the Magistrates Court of up to £1,000.
Sharon Poole would also like to hear from anyone who may have any information about this mystery dog walker. Members of the public can contact her in confidence on 01284 757621.
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIA ETHRIDGE, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033 Fax 01284 757032
Email: public.relations@stedsbc.gov.uk
