Dog fouling - the law
Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, it's an offence for any person in charge of a dog to fail to remove the faeces after a dog has defecated on designated land (public open space). Not having a poop scoop or any other means of removing the faeces, or being unaware of the legislation, is not be considered a reasonable excuse.
The offence carries a maximum fine of £1,000, although a fixed penalty fine of £50 may be offered. A dog fouling offence cannot be committed if the person in charge of the dog puts the faeces in a bin on the land or is a registered blind person.
Dog fouling - gated alleys
If you live on a street that has a gated alley, the Act still applies. It is not acceptable for a resident to fail to clear up after their dog(s) if it fouls in the alley, and the owner will still be liable to prosecution or a fixed penalty fine even if the dog is in the alley unaccompanied.
Dog waste bins
Middlesbrough Council provides around 105 dog waste bins across the town.
How to report dog fouling
If you have witnessed dog fouling, or know an area where dog fouling is a problem, you can use Report It to let us know.
To help with our investigation, we need to know as much information as possible. This includes:
- your name, address, contact number/email address
- where the offence occurred
- the address of the dog owner (if known)
- the time of day that the offence usually occurs (if fouling is regular)
- a description of the dog (if the owner is not known)
All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.