Dog owner must pay £770 after her pet fouled in the street

Tracey Organ was spotted by a council officer walking away from the mess on Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, in April. After admitting the offence under caution, she was issued with a £75 fixed penalty notice.

However, she failed to pay the sum and a summons was issued for her to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court this week. Organ, of Bickford Road, Fallings Park, failed to appear and was convicted in her absence of failing to remove faeces from designated land while in charge of a dog.

In total, she must now pay back £770, including a fine of £200, £400 towards prosecution costs, a £150 criminal court charge, and a £20 statutory surcharge - more than 10 times the initial fine.

Outlining the case, Miss Ravika Raulia, prosecuting, said: "On April 15, an environmental health officer was driving along Cannock Road near its junction with Victoria Road and when stuck in traffic near the roundabout saw a woman in charge of a small dog on the pavement opposite.

"The dog defecated and the woman walked away without clearing it. The officer got out of his car and walked to the scene before he lost sight of her.

"The same day, two environmental health officers visited the location and made inquiries at Dog Groomers Limited and a local newsagent and was told the woman lived in Bickford Road, which was later found to be correct."

Officers attended the address and after receiving no response, a fixed penalty notice for a £75 fine was posted, said Miss Raulia.

Following two further visits to the home in which there was no response, officers returned on May 26 and spoke to Organ.

Miss Raulia said that under caution Organ admitted the offence, apologised, and expressed her wish to pay the fine. At this point the period for Organ to pay was extended but no payment was made and on October 6 a summons was issued.

Miss Raulia added: "The council is concerned about the issue because of the costs involved in clearing faeces and the health risks including toxocara which is most commonly found in young children and can lead to permanent blindness."

District Judge Michael Wheeler, said: "I am satisfied in the case made and in failing to remove faeces from designated land, I find the charge proved."

Councillor Steve Evans, Wolverhampton's cabinet member for city services: "The courts have given this woman a significant fine and it sends out a strong message that dog fouling won't be tolerated. People who don't pick up after their pets are committing a disgusting, selfish and anti-social act.

"In our experience, few topics get people as worked up as dog fouling and it is a constant source of complaints to the council. Through our Cleaner Greener Better Wolverhampton campaign we are cracking down on dog fouling.

"We have an enforcement team who are out every day issuing fines against litter and dog fouling and we've recently placed posters around hotspot areas which glow in the dark because the problem tends to get worse as it gets darker earlier over winter."