Candidate’s pledge to get tough on ‘irresponsible’ dog owners

Published on 03/04/2012 12:00

AN independent candidate in the upcoming city council elections has made punishing dog owners who refuse to clean up after their pets his first priority.

Steven Binney, who will be standing in the Drum Brae/Gyle ward, said that although most dog owners cared for their pets, irresponsible dog walkers were acting “dangerously”.

He said: “As someone who grew up around dogs, I know that the majority of dog owners are responsible people who care for their pets.

“However, there are a minority of dog owners who act irresponsibly and this has a major environmental impact on our streets and green spaces.

“As well as being disgusting it is also dangerous as it contains parasites that are harmful to humans.”

Mr Binney vowed, if elected, to take the message to schools and libraries that dog owners not clearing up the mess would face sanctions, and he called for city council environmental wardens to take a zero tolerance approach to the issue.

He will go up against current city council environment leader Robert Aldridge in May’s polls.

He said: “We must ensure that sanctions are imposed forcibly on those who continue to be irresponsible and this would need a strong approach through the city’s environmental wardens.

“We must also support environmental wardens and ensure that those who act in a threatening manner towards them are dealt with firmly.

“We must seek to change behaviour on this issue.

“This is an avoidable problem and, with the right approach, improvement can be achieved.