CARDENDEN Community Council this week made an impassioned plea to dog walkers in the village to clean up their act.

Dog fouling at Wallsgreen Park has been causing problems once again and the community council is unhappy that this facility, which is a magnate for youngsters and also footballers, is being maltreated.

Community Council member, Dave Roy, said this week, “This is not just unsightly to members of the public, it can prove hazardous to people and in particular children’s health too, leading in some cases to an infection called toxocariasis which can lead to serious eye damage if contracted.

“Dog walkers need to realise that children use the park on a regular basis and are at risk from picking up disease if they come into contact with it.” Mr Roy added, “Dog mess is an eyesore and a health hazard. If you are a dog owner, you have a legal duty to clean-up every time your dog messes in a public place.

“While many do, a number of dog walkers do not take their responsibilities for their dog seriously. This means that dog mess is not always cleaned up”.

He went on to say, “Following complaints from Cardenden residents I had a walk down to Wallsgreen Park to see the problem for myself and the grass is covered in dog mess. It is illegal not to clean up after your dog and you can face an ‘on the spot’ fine if you fail to clean-up”.

Fife council issues on the spot fines to irresponsible dog owners who have failed to clean up after their dog. To assist dog owners, warning notices are in place in relevant areas together with a network of dog fouling bins where dog waste can be deposited.

Mr Roy had this message for prople in the village, “If you see irresponsible dog walkers not cleaning up after their dogs then you should call the number on the display boards in the park and pass on the following details to Fife Council: Where the dog lives; Descriptions of the dog; Descriptions of anyone walking the dog; The time when the dog is in the area (dogs and their owners often follow similar exercise routes and times); and Associated vehicle registration numbers.” Damien Woods, Service Manager - Parks, Streets & Open Spaces said, “Dog fouling is not just a nuisance, it’s passing on disease to our children. Our parks should be safe places for our children to play in without fear of stepping in dog mess. I ask all dog owners to be responsible and pick up after their dogs. There’s no excuse. If you get caught not clearing up after your dog, it’s a £40 fine. Everyone can help by reporting instances of dog fouling to the Council. We can serve fixed penalty notices based on the evidence provided by a reliable witness.

“Even if a witness is not willing to come forward with a statement, information that helps us identify an offender and the best time to catch them walking their dog, is useful.” If you’ve witnessed dog fouling or are aware of dog fouling hot spots, report it by phoning 03451 55 00 22