A COUNCIL has launched a crackdown on dog fouling.

A Wear Valley team is being provided with £50 fixed penalty tickets for dog owners who do not clean up after their pets when they foul the council's land.

Culprits who do not pay up within two weeks could also be prosecuted and have to pay up to £1,000.

People who drop litter are also being targeted in the crackdown. The council says that in their case the penalty could be as high as £2,500.

Wear Valley residents have bombarded the council with complaints about dog fouling and the issue is high on the agenda of a review of animal nuisances undertaken by the council's scrutiny committee, which is holding meetings early next month.

Last summer, the authority brought in extra dog waste bins and gave away 1,000 poop scoops in a bid to address the problem.

A spokesman said the council was taking a positive approach.

He said: "Residents have reported numerous complaints and are unhappy about the amount of litter and dog fouling within the district. Litter is unsightly and attracts pest and vermin that carry diseases such as Weil's disease, found in the urine of rats and causing flu-like symptoms, jaundice and renal failure.

"Dog faeces expose people to the risk of disease such as toxocariasis. Symptoms may persist for a year or more and include headaches, sore throats, abdominal pains, pneumonia, asthma or even blindness.

"People who own dogs and fail to remove faeces deposited in the open air are committing an offence."

Ian Coulthard, enforcement officer for the council's community services department, said: "Dog fouling is a particular concern. It is estimated that the UK dog population stands at around 7m and 1,000 tonnes of excrement is produced every day."

The meetings will be held in Crook, Bishop Auckland and Weardale and will look at all types of animal nuisance, including stray horses.

Anyone who would like to put forward comments can contact scrutiny manager Stephen Gwillym at Crook Civic Centre.