AN irresponsible dog owner is paying the price for failing to pick up after her pet as a crackdown on dog fouling in North Tyneside continues.
Mary-Jane McKurr made no attempt to clear up after her dog when it fouled the street on East View, Wideopen, on August 5 last year.
The 53-year-old was stopped by two Community Protection Officers from North Tyneside Council but failed to give her name and address as required by law - and the dog had no identifying collar - so the council launched an investigation and took her to court.
On February 14, North Tyneside Magistrates Court found McKurr, of East View, Wideopen, guilty of the offence and ordered her to pay £905 including council costs and a victim surcharge.
Since the council launched its latest crackdown on irresponsible dog owners in September, Community Protection Officers have targeted several locations where residents have raised concerns about dog fouling.
Officers have carried out visits to Whitley Bay, Burradon, North Shields, Wallsend, and Howdon Shiremoor, and will head to other locations throughout the borough in the coming weeks.
Most dog walkers were seen to act responsibly and pick up their dog’s mess.
Colin Boxshall, the council’s Community and Public Spaces Protection Manager, added: “We have a zero tolerance approach and dog walkers are warned to either pick up after their dogs or risk a £50 fine.”
Residents can report irresponsible dog owners anonymously by calling the Community Protection Team on (0345) 2000 103, or online at www.northtyneside.gov.uk.
