A disabled pet owner is calling for tough new laws on dog fouling after constantly getting dumped mess stuck in his mobility scooter wheels.
Darren Taylor, of Braemar Road, Brentford, wants all Hounslow dogs to be DNA-tested so owners can be caught out if they don’t scoop up after their pooch.
The unemployed 36-year-old, who said he always bags his nine-year-old dog Max’s mess, wants offenders to be hit where it hurts - in their wallet.
Hounslow Council does not employ dog wardens so no official has the power to police parks and pavements and hand out on-the-spot fines to dog owners. But Mr Taylor said powers could be handed over to police and he has written to the council.
He said: “It is despicable, some people should not be allowed to have dogs. I come home from walking Max and their is dog mess all over my wheelchair ramp, just left there so I have to run over it in my scooter.
“It gets stuck in my wheels and it is disgusting. People have no respect. In St Paul’s park I have seen people just letting their dog go to the toilet anywhere. These are the same people who let their dogs run around the children’s play area.
“In my mobility scooter I have a bag dispenser and always keep spare bag in my waistcoat and have to reach over my chair to pick up Max’s mess.
“Also in Brentford I am sure there are quite a lot of status dogs, just bred because they are tough. I think all dogs should be DNA tested, then if someone spots mess dumped it can be tested and tracked back to the owner who should pay up.”
Brentford councillor Matt Harmer is backing Mr Taylor’s campaign.
He said: “It is very simple to pick up after your dog and people should not avoid their responsibilities. It seems that a decision had been taken to not fine people as this might be seen as heavy handed. Now, I can see that it might be difficult to identify who should give these fines out. We don’t have animal wardens, and we’ve all seen how angry people can get when they get a parking ticket, so I don’t think I’d want to be the one handing out fines to dog owners. But I think the police can handle it. The policy is being reviewed as we speak.”
A council spokesman said officers were looking into working with police so they could hand out fines to dog owners.
Should people be made to pick up to their pooch? Tell us below.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here