The Law of Poop

“The Law of Poop .” - Sara Barnes

One of the biggest complaints I see in various social media groups is the amount of dog poop that has been left on the streets, or in parks, fields etc. So here is a breakdown of the law as it applies to England and Wales.

In the past there have been a number of Acts repealed that make the failure to clear up after your dog an offence. Today the law covering dog fouling is the Dog Fouling Act of 2016. It places responsibility on "the person in charge of the dog" at the time of the misdemeanor. So, if the dog you are walking is not yours, you are still liable for the fine if you don’t clear up after them. There are some exceptions for public land in England and Wales, including:

• Land used for agriculture or woodlands.

• Rural common land • Land that is predominantly marshland, moor or heath.

• Highways where the speed limit is 50mph or more.

Also, under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 local authorities can introduce public space protection orders making it an offence to not clean up dog fouling in specific areas. Under those orders, a person who does not clean up after their dog may face an on-the-spot fine of up to £80. These fines are known as fixed penalty notices. If a person refuses to pay, they can be taken to the local Magistrates Court for the dog fouling offence and fined up to £1,000.

Apart from the fact that dog fouling is a nuisance, it's associated with various diseases with symptoms including diarrhoea, cramping, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. It’s bad enough in adults, but if it’s your kids it can be even worse.

Personally, I pick it up wherever it is unless it is in the middle of a field, as I’m sure most farmers would rather we didn’t trample their crops. Some people are a fan of stick and flick principle, which is argued to an appropriate response is areas of agriculture.

If you see me out and about, and need a bag, just ask! All I ask is when you use a bag to pick up the poop, don’t hang the bag in a tree!