Dog walkers who don't carry two plastic bags to pick up mess face £80 fines

Dog walkers face £80 fines if they do not carry two plastic bags with them to pick up their pet’s mess under new plans.

Canterbury City Council have imposed the tough new system in an effort to reduce the amount of dog faeces in the area’s pavements and parks.

Residents walking their dogs face fixed penalties from next month if they are not carrying the right amount of bags when questioned by enforcement officers.

Fines will also be imposed unless a reasonable excuse has been given for why they don’t have two bags – such as already using them before being approached.

The council said: “Our enforcement officers will approach these new powers with discretion and use common sense.”

The move comes after the council admitted it had difficulty catching people who allow their dogs to mess, with no tickets issued since the year 2014-15.

There has been a mixed response to the measures, with the Dogs Trust saying that “education and encouragement of responsible dog ownership is much more effective than handing out fines”.

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However, Claire Tabony, from the dog care centre Kindergarten K9 in Whitstable, told Kent Online: “It’s pretty easy just to put a few extra [bags] in your pocket before you go out.

“You wouldn’t go out with a young child without packing a bag full of what you need, so why should it be different with a dog?”

Fines for failing to clear up dog mess are usually in the range of £50-£80 – rising to £1,000 if an owner refuses to pay and is taken to court.