Pembrokeshire has made the top 10 Councils list in the UK that has received the most dog poo complaints.

That’s according to the experts at waste removal company Rainbow Rubbish, which sought to uncover the UK councils that received the most complaints about people not cleaning up after their canines, utilising existing FOI data.

They also partnered with a pet expert, highlighting the hazardous effects dog waste can have on others and its risks to public safety.

Mess being left along St John’s Hill and down to The Green is seemingly being sprayed-painted bright blue to highlight dog-fouling and prevent pedestrians stepping in it.
Mess being left along St John’s Hill and down to The Green being sprayed-painted bright blue to highlight dog-fouling and prevent pedestrians stepping in it. (Observer pic)

Pembrokeshire Council received the eighth-highest number of dog mess complaints in the UK, with 496 reports — around 39 per 10,000 people.

That’s over five times fewer than Gwynedd's 2,800 complaints, which came 4th on the list, making it the only other Welsh county in the top 10.

The City of Edinburgh Council topped the list, receiving the most complaints with 6,516.

In Pembrokeshire, the Local Authority has contracted ‘WISE’ Enforcement officers to catch anyone not picking up after their pet.

A Fixed Penalty Notice for dog fouling stands at £150.

Earlier this year, dog fouling on the pavements of one street in Tenby, was being highlighted by bright blue spray paint to prevent pedestrians stepping in it and to shame the culprits.

Neighbouring village New Hedges, also launched a campaign of its own, with signs dotted around the community stating ‘Thoughtless dog owners we’re watching you’ - 9 out of 10 dog owners clean-up after their dog, Are you the one who doesn’t?’

Tenby’s neighbouring village New Hedges, has taken to launch a campaign of their own, with signs dotted around the community stating ‘Thoughtless dog owners we’re watching you’ - 9 out of 10 dog owners clean-up after their dog, Are you the one who doesn’t?’
Tenby’s neighbouring village New Hedges, launched a campaign of its own, with signs dotted around the community. (Observer pic)

In Saundersfoot, signage recently went up around the King George V playing fields, to state that dogs are now banned from the sports field, in light of inconsiderate dog walkers letting their pooches do their business on the seaside village’s sports pitches.

Josh Wiesenfeld, Pet Expert at Boxiecat and Boxiedog, commenting on the hazardous effects dog fouling has to other dogs as well as highlighting its risks to public safety and urban cleanliness, said:“Dog faeces poses a health risk to other dogs, but also to humans and the overall environment due to the transmission of parasites and infectious disease pathogens.

“Dog faeces can also pass on roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia, and coccidia—most of which are zoonotic, or capable of infecting people as well.

“Toxocara canis, a common roundworm, can cause toxocariasis in people, which can lead to loss of eyesight, organ damage, or neurological issues, particularly among kids playing in infected parks or yards.

“The danger is just as real for other canines. Parasites are caught by touching contaminated faeces or soil. Others, like parvovirus—a very contagious and generally lethal virus—can survive for months in the environment and are eliminated in the stools of the infected dog.

dog sign Saundersfoot
In Saundersfoot, signage recently went up around the King George V playing fields, to state that dogs are now banned from the sports field, in light of inconsiderate dog walkers letting their pooches do their business on the seaside village’s sports pitches. (Facebook)

“Even a seemingly low amount of uncollected faeces can harbour millions of bacteria and viruses, causing outbreaks in local dog populations. In shared spaces such as parks or sidewalks, this can significantly increase community-wide public health issues.

“In sanitation and public safety, dog faeces also contaminate waterways by entering stormwater runoff, especially in urban settings where drainage pipes are interconnected,” he added.