Animals
Dog Fouling
'Bag it, tie it, bin it'
Many members of the public are concerned about the mess caused when dogs foul pavements, parks and public areas. Some people are affected by fouling which occurs in their neighbours gardens. There are various means by which these concerns can be addressed.
New legislation has recently been introduced which makes it an offence to allow your dog to foul public land. This applies to the area covered by Bedford Borough and includes:
¨ All grass verges and footpaths within the 30 mph speed limit areas;
¨ all publicly owned land – including parks and sports grounds.
The legislation does not apply to agricultural land, woodland, marsh, moor or heathland, or common land.
In many areas the Council and other public bodies have erected dog waste bins as a facility for owners who clear up after their dogs. If you are aware of an area where dog fouling is still a problem, contact the Dog Warden who may be able to arrange for a bin to be erected.
The Dog Warden regularly patrols all the parks and areas on which fouling is controlled. Where necessary she will give advice, or issue a fine to any person who has allowed their dog to foul.
The Council has limited powers to deal with fouling on private land, including gardens, unless it is so severe that it causes problems such as odour or fly infestation. In these cases the Environmental Health Officer will visit and require the area to be cleared. We will also give advice on measures which may be taken if the situation does not improve, and the action the dog owner can take to minimise problems.
 | Dog Fouling Information Guide. ( 217 KB ) - DOWNLOAD |
If you would like to report dog fouling or would like one of our Enforcement Officers to visit your area, please telephone 01234 221781.
Alternatively you can report incidents of dog fouling by clicking here and completing the online form.
You can also contact the Pest Control and Dog Warden Service on 0800 1218888.
Dog Bins
The Council provides a large number of dog bins located in areas where dog fouling is perceived to be a problem. A list of the dog bin locations can be obtained by downloading the following document.
| Borough Dog Bin Locations. ( 83 KB ) - DOWNLOAD |
Toxocariasis
It is not well known that roughly half of the dog population is infested with a parasitic worm 'Toxocara'
which is harmful to humans. Please download document below for more information.
| Toxocariasis Dog Infection Information. ( 23 KB ) - DOWNLOAD |
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Dog Warden
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