Call for motion after 8 Highland Council canine wardens catch simply 2 dog-fouling homeowners in 3 years

Highland Council is dealing with calls for to scrub up its act on dog-fouling – after catching simply two offenders within the final three years.

Community leaders, politicians and childcare teams have expressed concern.

Freedom of Information statistics spotlight the native authority’s failure to clamp down on rogue pet homeowners. Dog filth can carry parasites and ailments harmful to individuals, with young kids and pregnant ladies at specific danger.

An investigation by Highland News and Media confirmed that in 2021, 2022 and 2023, members of the general public within the Highland Council space made 114, 109 and 111 dog-fouling complaints respectively.

Only a tiny fraction noticed canine homeowners punished with fastened penalty discover fines – one in 2021, one in 2022 and none final yr.

That is regardless of using eight assistant group works officers with canine warden duties at a complete wage cost of over £200,000 per yr.

The fines raked within the grand sum of £180 to council coffers.

Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain stated: “There’s clearly a significant disconnect between the variety of complaints, that are rising, and the whole lack of enforcement.

“Dog fouling is a disgusting drawback and those that enable it to occur should be punished in a approach that daunts them from ever doing it once more.

“The council must urgently assessment why a lot money is being spent on one thing which is having no affect in anyway.

“The wardens want extra help to deal with this drawback which blights too many communities throughout the Highlands.”

Dr Alastair Noble of Nairn West & Suburban Community Council has witnessed numerous situations of dog-fouling and feels the issue is getting worse.

He stated: “I’ve seen the so-called Secret Beach at Nairn in such a state that you could possibly hardly walk down the trail as there was a lot canine poo.

“We know Highland Council is broke, however they appear to make use of an terrible lot of individuals.

“If Highland Council are paying one of the best a part of quarter of 1,000,000 kilos in salaries, the least you’ll count on is the streets of Inverness and different cities to be poo-free.”

Tina Strain, proprietor of Tin Tin’s childminding service in Crown, Inverness, stated the issue was rife and notably worrying for folks and pregnant mums.

She stated: “It is de facto unhealthy up right here. There are individuals who don’t hassle, but in addition quite a bit who’re possibly accountable homeowners however are a wee bit blind-eyed in regards to the reality their canine is making a multitude.

“If pregnant ladies catch one thing from it, it may well blind their youngster so it isn’t one thing anybody ought to take evenly.”

Barry Fisher, chief government of Keep Scotland Beautiful, stated: “Scotland has an issue with canine fouling.

“Our recent public notion polling highlighted that 61 per cent of individuals see it of their native space very or considerably usually.

“It is probably the most offensive type of litter on our streets and parks.

“Local authorities have been pressured to make troublesome choices in recent years and funds cuts will proceed to affect how environmental crimes are handled.

“Highland Council moreover faces the numerous problem of managing companies throughout an enormous and really rural geographical space.

“Government, nationally and regionally, can and will do extra to implement current – and put in place new – laws and insurance policies to deal with canine fouling.

“But, in the end requirements are falling due to the behaviour of those that repeatedly fail to select up after their pet.”

A spokesperson for Highland Council stated: “The fee of the offence should be witnessed, the canine proprietor should knowingly not carry the fouling when it occurs.

“Unfortunately, the vast majority of canine fouling happens within the early/late night and early morning earlier than officers come on responsibility.

“However, we’ve got undertaken patrols out of hours in drawback areas to detect culprits.

“In addition to canine fouling, the council employs canine wardens to implement laws for deserted automobiles, uncontrolled dogs, fly tipping, pest management and littering. There are eight officers masking all the Highland Council space.”

It invitations anybody who witnesses canine fouling to report offences at https://shorturl.at/gsvH4

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