West Oxfordshire District Council to consult on new rules that could lead to £100 fine for dog fouling

Councillor Alistair Wray, Executive Member for Environment, said: 

“We know that most dog owners act responsibly and care deeply about their communities. However, dog fouling remains an issue that affects our parks, footpaths and other public spaces.  

“We are proposing a new order that would allow for £100 fines to be issued where dog fouling is caught or up to £1000 for a prosecution. This consultation will give residents the opportunity to help shape this order that could make our shared spaces cleaner, safer and more enjoyable for everyone, while ensuring any measures introduced are fair, proportionate and practical. 

“It is about sending a clear message that leaving dog mess in public is unacceptable. Every owner should pick up their dog mess and dispose of it correctly, not leave it where it could be trodden in or fling it into a bush.” 

The proposed PSPO would make it an offence for a person in charge of a dog to fail to clear up after it in public places. The proposal would apply across the West Oxfordshire district and is intended to help keep parks, footpaths, open spaces and streets clean and safe for residents and visitors. 

The PSPO would also require dog owners to carry a suitable means of collecting and disposing of dog waste when exercising their dogs. Exemptions would apply for some assistance dog users and people with certain disabilities to ensure the approach is fair and proportionate. 

Dog fouling can have a negative impact on people’s enjoyment of public spaces and, in rare cases, can pose health risks, particularly for young children. The Council currently receives reports of dog fouling from across the district and is seeking views on whether a district-wide PSPO would provide a clearer and more effective way of addressing the issue. 

The consultation will ask local people, town and parish councils, and partner organisations for their views on the proposed restrictions and how they should be applied. Feedback will help shape the final version of the order before it is considered by the Council later this year. 

If adopted, the PSPO would provide authorised officers with additional enforcement powers. Anyone who breaches the order could receive a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £100 or face prosecution with a maximum fine of £1000. 

Further details about the consultation, including how to respond, will be available on the Council’s website once it is launched.