There are over 13 million dogs in the UK and a further 89 million in the US alone. That’s a lot of paws hitting the pavement every day! Although most dog owners clean up after their dogs, research suggests that 40% of owners leave it where it lands. While no one enjoys scooping the poop, it’s bad for the environment and dog poop law (at least in the UK) states that you’re legally responsible to clean up after your dog.
Is it law to pick up dog poop?
In the UK, you are required to clean up after your dog by law. Failure to comply can result in a fixed penalty notice of up to £100, increasing to £1000 if not paid and taken to court. In the US, most states have laws against dog fouling, with fines of up to $2000 in some cities.
A fixed penalty fine will not only put a dent in your wallet, but it will also be rather embarrassing to be reprimanded in front of the regular dog walkers at your local park. Get in the know and read on to find out more about dog poop and the law!
Dog Poop Law UK
Dog poop is a major issue in many areas, not just in the UK but all around the world. The abundance of waste produced by our furry friends has led to extreme measures by some. For instance, Tel Aviv has introduced dog poop DNA tests to catch poop scoop dodgers. And Seville requires dog owners to carry disinfectant with them to wash away their dog’s pee. So it’s no surprise to help tackle this issue it’s covered under legislation in the UK.
England and Wales
In England and Wales, local authorities are required to keep public spaces free from dog waste. Under The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 authorities can ban certain activities in public spaces. Using Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO), councils can prohibit activities that negatively impact a public space and the quality of life of local residents, such as dog fouling. Areas covered by PSPO range from public footpaths and recreation grounds, to town centres and car parks. However, many councils implement PSPO to cover entire districts.
Owners that frequently do not clean up after their dogs are deemed to be committing anti-social behaviour and local authorities can issue on-the-spot fixed penalty fines of up to £100. However, if an owner refuses to pay, they can be taken to court and face a fine of up to £1,000.
Scotland
Scotland has its own legislation regarding dog fouling, however, it is very similar to England and Wales. Under The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 it is an offense for dog owners to allow their dog to foul on any public open space. Therefore, owners that don’t clean up after their dogs can be issued a fixed penalty fine of £80, increasing to £100 if the fine is not paid within 28 days. Individuals that repeatedly offend will be taken to court and face a fine of £500 and a criminal record.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, local authorities have a duty to keep public spaces free from dog waste under The Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994. It is an offense for an owner to not clean up after their dog on public land. Local authorities can issue a fixed penalty fine to owners of £80, refusal to pay can lead to court prosecution.
Is it law to carry dog poop bags in the UK?
In short yes, but it depends on where you live in. Many local authorities have implemented new bylaws requiring dog owners to carry dog poop bags at all times. If you are caught without the means to clean up after your dog you may receive a fixed penalty fine of up £100. Failure to pay may result in being taken to court and a fine of up to £1000.
Dog Poop Law US
If you live in the US, you may be thinking that you’ve dodged scooping the poop, but you’d be wrong. New York was the first state to pass the Pooper Scooper law way back in 1978, setting in motion many more states to follow suit. Now most US states have their own dog poop laws, many of which come with a fine. The fines vary between states and even counties, and some are pretty hefty!
New York City, New York: fine of $250
Boston, Massachusetts: fine of $50
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: fine from $100
Washington, D.C: fine between $150 – $2,000
Chicago, Illinois: fine between $50 – $500
Austin, Texas: fine of up to $500
Denver, Colorado: fine of $125
Los Angeles, California: fine of up to $100
San Francisco, California: fine of up to $319
Seattle, Washington: fine between $54 – $109
You get the idea. No matter what state you live in it’s likely to have its own dog poop laws. There’s no way around it, you’ve got to scoop the poop.
Top tips to always be prepared to scoop the poop
Picking up after our furry friends is not an enjoyable task, but regardless of poop scoop laws, it’s better for the environment. If you always forget poop bags before heading out the door here are a few tips so you’re never caught out again!
- Stock up! When your preferred brand of poop bag is on offer, don’t just buy one pack, stock up! Buy in bulk and worry about storing them when you get home.
- Set up a repeat subscription. Get poop bags delivered right to your door and never worry about running out again! You can choose the amount and frequency you want to be delivered, and most subscription services allow you to skip, pause or cancel at any time.
- Stash. Once you’ve stocked up on poop bags stash them. Stash some in all the jackets you wear dog walking (stash some in your partner’s coats too). If you take a bag out on walks, stash some in there. Stash some in the car so you’re not caught out on walks further away from home.
- Attach a poop bag dispenser to your dog’s lead. If there is one thing that is going with you on the dog walk (apart from the dog) it’s your dog’s lead. Adding a poop bag dispenser to your dog’s lead means you don’t have to worry about bags on your way out the door!
- Store everything together. This may seem pretty obvious, but store your poop bags with your dog’s lead. Keeping all your dog-walking stuff together means you’re more likely to pick up everything you need before walkies commence. As the old saying goes, out of sight, out of mind.
The Bottom Line
You may feel it’s unfair to impose such dog poop laws and fines, but we often walk our dogs in shared public spaces. It isn’t fair to other local residents to leave your dog’s doo-doo for them to dodge while walking to the shops or playing football in the park. Picking up after our pups is, at the very least, the considerate thing to do. Not to mention it’s better for the environment. Cleaning up after our furry friends stops nutrient pollution and removes nasty pathogens and parasites that are risks to public health.
Whether you like it or not, scooping the poop is part of being a responsible pet parent. Bottom line, if your dog does the crime, you better scoop to avoid the fine!