Street cleaning

Dog fouling is a health risk and a criminal offence. If your dog fouls in a public place, you must clean it up straight away.

Report dog mess

You can report:

• dog mess in public areas
• people who allow their dogs to foul without picking up after them

We cannot take action against:

• cat owners if cats foul in your garden
• dog fouling on private land such as front and back gardens and driveways

Report dog mess

What happens when you report dog mess

We use reports of dog mess to help target enforcement activities. This may include:

• warning stencils in affected areas
• high-visibility or plain-clothes patrols
• enforcement action where appropriate

Dog waste bins

You can put bagged dog waste in any public litter bin in Cumberland. If a public litter bin is damaged or overflowing, you can report it to us.

Report a damaged or overflowing bin

Your responsibilities

If you’re responsible for a dog, you must:

• clean up after it immediately if it fouls in a public place
• carry bags or or other suitable means to remove dog waste
• put bagged dog waste in a public litter bin or take it home and dispose of it with your household waste
• keep your dog under control in public places

You must not:

• leave dog waste behind
• hang bagged dog waste on trees or hedges

You are still responsible for clearing up after your dog if you:

• were not with the dog at the time
• did not see the dog foul

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) set out additional rules for dog owners in some public spaces.

The law

It's a criminal offence not to clean up after your dog.

If you do not clean up after your dog, you could:

• receive a £100 fixed penalty notice
• be prosecuted if the fixed penalty is not paid within 14 days
• be fined up to £1,000 by a magistrates' court