Dog DNA database to tackle dog fouling looked into at Wyre

The possibility of setting up a ‘dog DNA database’ to tackle dog fouling has been looked into by Wyre Council. The revolutionary scheme would require dog owners to register their pets with the council, allowing the authority to test samples of dog fouling and issue fines accordingly. Coun Lady Dulcie Atkins first raised the issue at a Wyre full council meeting last year, having heard that an Edinburgh City councillor had called for the Scottish council to implement such a scheme. At the meeting Coun Lady Atkins, who represents Garstang ward, inquired whether a similar scheme could be replicated at Wyre Council. Councillor Simon Bridge, Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder, welcomed her suggestions to enhance the area and agreed to feed this example back to officers. However, having done so, it was found that the scheme would be too expensive to initiate. Coun Lady Atkins said this week: “It sounded like a very interesting idea and would help the council catch the right culprits. “Dog fouling has often been raised as a big conern across Wyre. “The council did look into it after I raised it – but the financial drawback was too much.” The City of Edinburgh Council, meanwhile, is preparing a report looking into the possibilities of the proposal as well as the financial considerations. Failure to clean up after a dog is an offence and offenders in Wyre risk a fixed penalty fine of £100 or even prosecution in magistrates’ court resulting in a fine of up to £1000.

There has been a major increase in fines handed out to people in Wyre who allow their dogs to foul in public places, figures show. In the year 2022 just one person received a fixed penalty notice in the borough for not picking up after their pets. However, figures show that between the start of July and September 19 in 2023,15 fixed penalty notices were dished out to those who transgressed.