Irresponsible dog owners who let their pets foul footpaths could soon be landed with on-the-spot fines if Douglas councillors have their way.
A motion by Douglas councillors has called for a change in policy to allow by-law enforcement staff to issue immediate penalties because they felt it would be more effective than pursuing matters through the courts.
‘We’re watching you’ is the slogan to be used once more, in the wake of a successful campaign run last autumn and the same style of poster featuring luminous eyes will once again be displayed in targeted areas around the capital where dog excrement has proved problematic.
In one of the back lanes parallel with Woodbourne Road, for example, householders have already taken matters into their own hands by attaching their own warning notices to lamp posts.
The campaigns are set for the autumn because councillors feel the dark nights encourage people to be less responsible and not pick up after their pets when they feel they are less likely to be seen and identified.
To reinforce the message councillors also hope to achieve a change in primary legislation allowing on-the-spot fines for offending pet owners. The current approach is to take people to court so the message is reinforced by public humiliation but few if any prosecutions are ever pursued.