New laws to crackdown on dog fouling in Derry

Tough new regulations are set to be introduced in Derry aimed at cracking down on dog owners who allow their pets to foul when they are off the lead.

The Dog Control Order will allow Derry City and Strabane Council to “deal more effectively” with the problem of dog fouling, due to the fact that a loophole currently exists in relation to the issue.

As it stands, the legislation governing dog fouling states that an offence is only committed when a person “permits” a dog to foul and fails to clean up after it.

To commit this offence the person in charge of the dog must be with it and watch it foul.

However, the law does not cater for dog owners who let their dogs out unsupervised or owners who let their dog off their lead and fail to supervise it.

Under the new Dog Control Order, it would make be an offence for the person in charge of a dog at the time to fail to clean up after it.

A report on the matter has been brought before the Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Health and Community Committee.

It emerged at the meeting that while a Dog Control Order existed in Strabane, no such order exists in Derry, with the new merged council now seeking to ‘harmonise’ its legislation.

The report also stated that council receives ‘numerous complaints in regard to dog fouling on streets, paths, football pitches and even our graveyards’.

Council has now confirmed legal advice has been undertaken and council’s aim is to develop a new order in similar terms to cover the entirety of the new Council district.

The penalty for committing an offence contained in a Dog Control Order is a maximum of £1,000.

Those caught allowing their dog to foul will be given the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty of £80 could be offered in lieu of prosecution.

At the meeting, it was agreed council would begin a consultation exercise which will involve publishing a notice describing the proposed order on the council’s website and in the local newspapers inviting representations on the proposals.

If the Order is approved, council will then erect suitable signage throughout the council area informing people of the offence for failing to clean up after their dog.

The committee gave their approval for council to create a Dog Control Order for dog fouling in accordance with the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.