Dogs and Dog Owners

[hoots the scoop]

Do you think there should be heftier fines for Dog Owners who continually let their dogs excrement in public and leave it lying there?

Out of interest - Is it an actual offence to let dogs roam free?

This thread has nothing against dogs or dowg owners. Merely trying to generat and stimulate conversation and see what others think.

[Beachcomber]

I'm not sure if there's a specific offence of letting a dog roam but should, for instance, a loose dog run into the road and cause an accident then the owner of the dog is liable unless they can show they took reasonable steps to ensure the dog didn't roam. Likewise, presumably, if a roaming dog is found to be fouling the paths or pavements.

[daftdog]

It must be an offence, as there is a dog warden in town. I remember my mum and her husband desperately trying to keep Cody in the garden or house when ever they went out or someone came to visit, as he was off like a shot. The only time they relaxed if he did escape, was when the dog warden was off duty, as they got a fine i think if Cody was caught by the dog warden. Thus i presume that a dog found wandering alone without an owner, must be classed as a stray and strays being captured is the job of a dog warden, along with the policing of dog fouling.

On the subject of dog fouling..... hang (or a big fine) the owners who do not clean up the mess their dogs make ... if you are willing to look after a dog, you must be willing to do all the dirty jobs like cleaning up after it.

Bag it and bin it. its not rocket science..

[Hels]

Absolutely - there ought to be a fine for those who let dogs foul without cleaning up! Particularly on pavements and public parks.

My current rant, which is kind of related, is about cats fouling in my garden! These aren't strays, but from the local area and they all seem to have chosen my garden as a public convenience! During grass-cutting season I've had to lift up to a dozen "deposits" on a weekly basis - and the garden ain't that big!!! I know cats can't exactly be kept on a lead, but ......

I have nothing against cats, but I've tried everything to deter them! Any sensible and legal suggestions?

[general jack o'niell]

try wotdoyacallits for keeping moths away, mothballs, they worked in my garden, as for the dog problem? i find a good dose of abuse directed at the owner usually discourages them from returning to my patch, probably means they just go elsewhere, its the reason i don't have a dog, i refuse to pick up dog shit, so no dog, easy solution, a good fine for even a first offence, say £100, £1,000 for a second and the dog destroyed and six months jail for a third, three sh!tes and your out!!!!!

[bill]

i refuse to pick up dog shit, so no dog, easy solution, a good fine for even a first offence, say £100, £1,000 for a second and the dog destroyed and six months jail for a third, three sh!tes and your out!!!!!

Got to be the most sensible thing you have ever posted General.Agree 100%

Do'nt like dogs,never have done,and cats even less.

[general jack o'niell]

all that time and effort on this forum and all the time i just needed to threaten to shoot a few dogs to please bill, if i'd only known we could have gone hunting when he was up on his hols.

think i'd be tempted to put the owner down rather than the dogs tho, yes that means you, owner of the dog that craps all over the path on the cutting and no, getting it to sh!t in the gully at the edge of the path doesn't let you off.

[Ileach B]

I thought you could be fined for letting your dog foul? Was there not an incident in Mid Argyll when someone was fined?

I can't stand it! Its disgusting and germ ridden. All it takes its a couple of plastic bags!

[general jack o'niell]

you do get fined but like everything else you have to catch them in the act, or non act in this case, someone, dog warden, policeman, whoever, would need to witness owner with dog, stopping, dog fouling, owner failing to remove said foul, then its a case of the official person then giving a free kick or a penalty if its inside the box.

[the ringmaster]

Cats are protected by several laws such as:

The Theft Act 1968 - it is an offence to steal a cat

The Protection of Animals Act 1911 as extended by later legislation - it is an offence to cruelly ill-treat, beat, kick, infuriate, carry or convey in a manner which causes unnecessary suffering, commit any act that will cause unnecessary suffering, abandon or cause to be abandoned any cat or kitten and to cause anyone to do any of these.

Criminal Damage Act 1971 - Any person who destroys or damages, or threatens to destroy or damage a cat belonging to another person may be committing an offence under this Act.

Because cats fall outside of the definitions of cattle or livestock under the Animals Act 1971 they cannot be held guilty of trespass under civil law and their owners therefore cannot be held liable for damage.

There are also laws which could, in the right circumstances, protect you from the nuisance of cats:

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 - proceedings can be brought when, in the opinion of the local authority, there is a statutory nuisance caused by an animal kept in such a place or manner as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance.

The Public Health Act 1936 - A local authority can make bye-laws preventing the keeping of animals so as to be prejudicial to health.

[Jock Strap]

Dog warden - what dog warden?

[general jack o'niell]

in other words i have to just put up with the half a dozen that do as they please up my way, including trying to terrify my daughter's rabbit, good job i don't pick up the nearest stone to chuck at them, am i better to save them for fouling dog owners?

i'm sure there is a dog warden, tho who it is or what they do i could not say

[EileenH]

I have a dog and I ALWAYS pick up after her. I live on a country road ( always full of sheep shit!) and I still pick up after her. I know of several people from the town that walk their dogs round here and never pick up their mess. It's as if they think cause they're out of town no-one will say anything. What makes me mad is that there is a certain person lets their dog shit right outside my gate. One of these days I'm going to say something, maybe leave a bag on my gate with a note!!! On that note, there are cats that come into my garden and do their business on my flowerbeds. Wonder what would be said if it was my dog going into the owners garden????!

[LO]

I know someone who lived in a nice, quiet cul-de-sac in Renfrewshire and naturally got very peeved when he saw a guy from a couple of streets away regularly take a dog on to the grass across from his house.

Needless to say, the mess was never cleared up, so one day he followed the guy home to make sure he had the right address, and then next time it happened, he scooped it up with a shovel and high-tailed it round to the guys house.

He then rang the doorbell, and when it was answered, told the guy he had forgotten something, then tossed the contents of the shovel on to his lawn before walking off in disgust. It worked a treat - the man never returned with his dog.

Although a very laudable feat, I think I would have taken the time to write the dog owner a wee note to post through the letterbox along with the contents of the shovel.

Far be it from me to suggest a similar course of action here but sometimes the direct approach can be the most successful and besides, the comedy potential is unparalleled!

[gizmo]

good fine for even a first offence, say £100, £1,000 for a second and the dog destroyed and six months jail for a third, three sh!tes and your out!!!!!

If the dog was destroyed after the second offence the owner must have done the 3rd dirty deed themselves... These people should be ashamed of themselves have they no common decency surely they could have waited till they got home... Sometimes I despair.... I bet you they are bloody smokers as well, flinging their dogends all over the place... Ba$tards.