Rushcliffe dog owners criticise ‘nuisance’ pet owners amid council crackdown on dog fouling
One of the signages located on a bin around Rushcliffe Country Park
By Megan Daley
Responsible dog walkers in Rushcliffe have criticised ‘nuisance’ pet owners who don’t pick up after their pooches as the borough council cracks down on dog fouling.
Rushcliffe Borough Council has renewed its Dog Control Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which outlines rules for responsible dog ownership across parks and public spaces in the borough.
The measures include tougher enforcement, fines of up to £100 and a fourth provision limiting the number of dogs a person can walk at a time to no more than six.
And extra signage is being placed in areas like Rushcliffe Country Park – alongside targeted patrols to encourage compliance.
The measures have been welcomed by dog walkers in the country park.
One dog walker, Hilary, told Notts TV: “It’s awful when you see dog mess on the ground. Everyone should have a bag. I always carry bags so I clear it up all the time.”
Lucy Brown added “It’s awful when you’re walking along and see dog poo everywhere.”
She also expressed curiosity about the enforcement of the dog walking limit, saying: “I find it interesting how they are going to enforce that specifically.”
Another dog owner, Sue, shared her frustration about others not picking up after their dogs.
“It’s just a nuisance,” she said. “I end up picking it up for people. The responsible dog owners do pick it up, it’s the ones that let their dog roam or just can’t be bothered.”
Ruth Gregory added: “It takes nothing to pick it up, it takes two seconds. I’ll pick up someone else’s dog poo so the public doesn’t have to deal with it.”
“I think they could have more people walking around.”
The council’s approach is “intelligence-led”, with teams monitoring hotspot areas and acting on public complaints.
Among the rules, dogwalkers must carry bags to collect waste, keep dogs on leads in play areas and fenced parks, and must not walk more than six dogs at a time – though this is limited to four in West Bridgford parks.
David Banks, Director of Neighbourhoods at Rushcliffe Borough Council, said the updated PSPO is about “promoting responsible dog ownership” and includes updated signage, public engagement, and targeted patrol to encourage compliance.
“Many dog owners are responsible,” he told Notts TV. “This order is designed to promote responsible dog ownership.”
“Where appropriate, we will issue fixed penalty notices to make sure people are complying with the PSPO.”
The council is also working with an external enforcement company to issue penalties where needed.
Patrols are currently underway in popular locations such as Rushcliffe Country Park and West Bridgford’s West Park, where some areas restrict dog walkers to a maximum of four dogs.
The council is keen to stress the health risks associated with dog fouling. Dog faeces can carry Toxocara Canis, a parasite that can lead to toxocariasis in humans, with severe cases potentially causing blindness.
For more details on the PSPO and the rules in place, residents can visit: http://www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/pspo
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