Dog and animal fouling

It is an offence for an owner not to clear up after their pet in Maidstone's public areas. Failure to clear up can result in prosecution and a fine.

It is an offence for a person in charge of a dog to fail, when his or her dog fouls, to remove the faeces from the land immediately. The maximum penalty for this is £1,000. This is part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Being unaware that the dog has fouled, or not having a device for removing the faeces, is not a reasonable excuse for failing to remove it.

For these offences authorised officers of the Local Authority can issue fixed penalty notices, which give offenders the opportunity to pay £75 to discharge any liability to prosecution.  If a person is issued with a fixed penalty notice they have fourteen days to pay.

If you know of an area where there is always dog fouling, or you know of people who regularly let their dog foul, please contact the Council with full details or report the incident online so that we may follow up the offence.

To report dog or animal fouling call 01622 602202 or use the online form

Police Community Support Officers

These uniformed, police employees also have the power to issue fixed penalty notices.  The penalty to be paid to the Local Authority.  Maidstone Borough Council and Kent Police have entered into an agreement setting out

 the arrangements for managing this process.