Report dog fouling

If dog fouling is a problem where you live, you can report it to your local council.

The law on dog fouling in Scotland

If you're in charge of a dog, you must clean up after it in public. You could be fined by your local council if you do not.

This includes:

in parks
on pavements and pedestrian areas
in children’s play areas
in communal spaces – for example, closes, courts, stairs and back greens

Exceptions

The law does not apply to people in charge of:

guide dogs
service dogs – for example, police dogs
working dogs used for herding livestock

Report dog fouling to your local council

Report dog fouling

After you report dog fouling

The council will log your report and look into the issue. They may use wardens to patrol areas with lots of reports.

If you report a dog owner, the council may take action if they did not clean up after their dog.

Penalties for not cleaning up after a dog in public

Local councils can fine offenders £80. The fine goes up to £100 if they do not pay within 28 days. If someone keeps failing to clean up after their dog in public, the council can take them to court.

Cleaning up dog fouling

Councils must keep public spaces clear of rubbish, including dog fouling. The time it takes to clean up dog fouling depends on:

how busy an area is
how much rubbish there is

Councils will prioritise busy areas where there’s often more rubbish. It can take longer in less busy or rural areas.

Get information on the standards and timescales councils must follow on gov.scot.

Thanks for your feedback

Information