On the 11th of April, Monmouthshire County Council, along with partner town and community councils, held a Dog Fouling Awareness Day as part of the “Give Dog Fouling the Red Card” collaboration scheme.

This event, which took place in Usk and Gilwern, provided a valuable opportunity for officers and councillors to engage with dog owners and raise awareness about responsible pet ownership.

It is widely recognised that dog walkers should pick up after their pets in public areas. However, this event also highlighted the other responsibilities associated with dog control in public spaces, particularly following the introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in 2024.

Recent months have seen the installation of signs in ‘hot spot’ areas throughout the county to inform dog owners about:

• Locations, such as children’s play areas, school grounds and marked sports pitches, where dogs are not allowed.
• Areas where dogs must be kept on a short lead. This includes places like Linda Vista Gardens in Abergavenny, MCC managed cemeteries in Monmouth, Llanfoist and Chepstow, as well as historically significant sites like Caldicot Castle and Abergavenny Castle.

For a complete list of Dog Exclusion and Leads Only areas, please visit the Council’s webpage: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/public-spaces-protection-order-2024-dog-control/.

Dog walkers should also be aware that under the PSPO:

• An authorised officer can ask a person in charge of a dog to put their dog on a lead if it is deemed out of control, causing alarm or distress, or creating a nuisance.
• Dog owners must carry bags to collect their dog’s waste.

Monmouthshire County Council will issue a fixed penalty notice of £100 for violations of the PSPO. Failure to pay this notice may result in the case being taken to court, where a fine of up to £1,000 could be imposed.

Cllr Angela Sandles, Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Equality and Engagement, stated: “It has been nearly 12 months since we adopted the PSPO, which helps protect vulnerable members of our community. I am pleased to note that the response to it has been largely positive. While most dog owners are responsible and considerate, a small minority are not. We will continue to ensure that all dog owners adhere to the rules set out in the PSPO, creating an environment where all residents can enjoy our beautiful green spaces.”