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Dog fouling

Foul Play logoIs dog poo blighting your area?

  • Are the culprits just walking away and ignoring their responsibilities - endangering public health and putting children at risk?
  • We want to empower local communities to build strong defence and show the red card to dog fouling in their neighbourhoods.
  • Report dog fouling in confidence today and we'll help you get it sorted.

Report dog fouling

Be a responsible dog ownerAdvice for dog owners and handlers

The majority of dog owners and handlers are responsible and pick up after their dog's done its business, but it's the careless few that fail to pick it up that give dogs and their owners a bad reputation.

It is illegal to leave your dog's mess lying around in a public area. If a dog is in your care for any length of time, it is your responsibility to clean up its mess.

In this section you should find everything you need to know about disposing of dog mess correctly and responsibly, and why it's so important not to leave it on the ground or swinging in a bag on trees and fences (yes - it does happen!)


Litter binBag it. Bin it - in ANY public litter bin

Bagged dog mess tied up tightly (ideally double bagged) can be placed in ANY public litter bin or even your municipal refuse bin at home if there isn't a public bin around.

If there are no litter bins nearby take it home and put it in your municipal waste bin. No bin. No bag. No excuse.


Plastic bagALWAYS carry a bag when you walk your dog

Dog mess can be picked up using any plastic carrier bag (ideally double bagged) and placed in ANY public litter bin.

Just bag it up, tie it up, and put it in the next public waste bin you see. Or put the bagged mess in your municipal waste bin at home.


There's no such thing as the dog poo fairyDog poo fairy

Keep Britain Tidy’s research shows that in the UK there appears to be increasing amounts of bagged dog mess being left behind as people fail to dispose of their bags after cleaning up after their pets.

Please bag it up and put it in any public litter bin or your municipal waste bin at home.


Court hammerFines and enforcement

Our enforcement team takes a zero tolerance approach to dog fouling on public land.

If witnessed, offenders face a fixed penalty fine of £50 or a maximum penalty on conviction of £1,000.

Enforcement officers work with the public, the police and other bodies to get the evidence they need to convict offenders.

Don't take the risk. Bag it and bin it.


Bag it! Bin it!Why it's important to clean up after your dog 

Health hazards; community detriment; a risk to children; dirty - the list goes on. If you've ever wondered why councils bang on so much about dog fouling here's why.


Top tips for dog owners 

Everything you need to know about picking up dog mess, avoiding fines and looking after your community.


Dogstar Superstar!

To reward thoughtful dog owners, Keep Britain Tidy's dog poo fairy will magically transform your canine companion into the next Geri Howliwell, Justin Timberwolf, Collie Parton and Nelly Fur-tado!

Local residents show the red card to dog fouling.Advice for communities

Some dog owners think they can get away with not picking up their dog's mess if an enforcement officer isn't around - wrong! As more people come forward to report dog fouling offences, irresponsible dog owners may start to think twice about not picking up their dog's mess.

Dog owners who fail to pick up their dog’s mess, bag it up and put it in the bin are letting you and your community down. Take a stand - report it and sort it!


Show the red card to dog foulingShow dog fouling the red card!

You can download and print our Foul Play red card to keep in a handy place for when you need to report dog fouling.

You can also display  it in your window to send a clear message out to irresponsible dog owners to pick up their dog's mess.


Dog fouling - the facts

More about dog fouling and why it cannot be tolerated...ever.