Council secures prosecution over dog waste

The local authority said the man pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates' Court earlier this month for failing to comply with the council's Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which makes leaving dog waste in public a crime.

He was fined £266, ordered to pay costs of £450 and a victim surcharge of £106, totalling £822.

South Gloucestershire said it became aware of the breaches after receiving a report of increased dog fouling along the pavement area in front of the shops on Cleeve Wood Road, Downend in February 2026.

Three incidents were later captured on CCTV, all featuring the same dog fouling on the pavement areas outside the shop fronts, it told the court.

Investigating council officers eventually tracked down the man's address, allowing the council to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) to him.

No payment was received from the man, leading officers to make three separate visits to his address, but on each occasion there was no answer at the door. A final FPN was placed in the letterbox of the property.

The council never received payment for the FPN, leading it to launch a prosecution.

Councillor John Bradbury, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Dog owners must take responsibility for clearing up after their animals, and must always ensure they carry bags so that they are able to do so. Dog fouling is not only unpleasant and unsightly, but it can also pose a health risk and in extreme cases can even cause blindness.

“This man made no effort to clear up his dog’s mess which impacted local residents and businesses and ultimately used council resources to clear up. I’m really pleased to see this case come to a successful conclusion and hope it acts as a deterrent to other irresponsible dog owners in the area.”

Adam Carey