Having to pick up dog mess is something many people dread doing, but dodging this responsibility is actually breaking the law.
It’s not just because it’s disgusting but the mess left lying around can pose health risks to others. And in Bristol the problem seems to be getting worse in recent months, with social media posts filled with people complaining.
One woman in east Bristol even uploaded her doorbell footage of a man seemingly leaving his dog's mess on the pavement without picking it up.
READ MORE: Bristol businessman scammed out of almost £8,000 by fraudster
She said: “He seems to walk his dog every evening around Cooksley Rd / Victoria Parade. The dog deposits huge piles of poo which he refuses to pick up!”
Others have joined the conversation with one saying: “I’ve seen piles of it by the small park at the end of Carlton park, and on both sides of Cooksley Road. It’s not OK.”
While another said it was happening in another part of the city: “The Meadows behind the trading estate…is disgusting, full of dog poo. Over the last few days, it’s covered/littered in dog mess! Please pick up your dog's mess, my dogs keep running through it because it’s everywhere!”
Laws around dog fouling
This is where a dog owner, or the person walking the dog, fails to remove their dog’s mess from the ground, an offence which could see you handed a large fine.
Those who do dog foul and are caught will be issued with fixed penalty notices costing up to £100 which could go up ten times the amount to £1000 if the case goes to court.
Health risks posed by dog poo
Keep Britain Tidy explains on their page: “Whilst rare, contact with dong excrement can cause toxocariasis - a nasty infection that can lead to dizziness, nausea, asthma and even blindness or seizures.”
Feeling curious? Follow Curiously on TikTok , Instagram , Facebook and Twitter .
Up Next:
