SELFISH, lazy dog owners who leave poo bags in trees, hedges, verges and towpaths in Stroud are being warned that they can be fined.

After the SNJ highlighted the problem on Facebook yesterday, dozens of angry comments were posted highlighting poo hotspots in the area, with many followers saying the problem had got worse during lockdown.

Many people have become more aware of the issue due to taking daily exercise and say the bags are blighting footpaths, commons, woodlands and play areas.

One Facebook follower reflected the anger by writing: "Never understood why someone would go to the trouble of bagging their dog mess and then not just dispose of it properly and hang it off a tree or something...subhuman scum!"

One post captured the issue perfectly by saying: "With the Covid situation, more people seem to be out walking there dogs frequently, the whole countryside is being affected by this problem.

"It seems a lot of dog owners think they do not need to bother bagging there dogs mess when in the countryside.

"It seems incredibly that people go to the trouble of bagging it and then fail to dispose of the bag properly. It’s a sign of our society today!"

Another commented: "The public alley way that children and parents have to walk through everyday to go to Callowell Primary School is disgusting! No one seems to pick theirs up and there is a poo bin available. It’s vile! And lazy!"

Stratford Road between Downfield and Beards Lane was also highlighted.

Other readers highlighted the danger posed to animals such as cows and horses if the bags and toxic contents are eaten.

"Absolutely disgusting, makes my blood boil," said one.

One Stonehouse resident said she spent Sunday, January 3, removing 50 bags which had accumulated by a bin near St Cyr's cemetery.

"Someone had clearly thought the red bin was full and started to leave the bags on top of it and all around the base. It was horrible but I couldn't walk past it for another day, she wrote.

In response, Stroud District Council said anyone leaving bags behind could be fined as is the case with owners who fail to clean up mess.

Simon Pickering, chairman of SDC's environment committee, said: "Those who don’t immediately clean up after a dog under their control are committing an offence - this includes leaving bagged poo hanging in hedges or trees.

“Dog faeces can cause toxocariasis which can lead to blindness.

"Young children will be more at risk as they are more likely to come into contact with the faeces and not realise the dangers.

“There is absolutely no excuse to not dispose of dog poo safely – we provide around 950 litter bins and 500 dog waste bins across the district which can all be used for the disposal of bagged dog waste.

“Bagged dog waste can also be placed in your general household waste wheelie bin.

"The council will serve a Fixed Penalty Notice of £75 on any offender found not cleaning up after their dog or littering their dog waste bag, or can seek to prosecute through magistrates courts where the maximum fine is £1,000.

Dog fouling problems can be reported at stroud.gov.uk/reportdogmess 

Overflowing dog bins can be reported here

If you would like to help keep our area free of litter and other waste you can join the Five Valleys Wombles on Facebook.

Liz Storfot Bruksgård, of the group, said: "Our 247 strong group of folks are trying to make a difference to our neighbourhoods across the whole of Stroud.

"On our page you will find we have had great results working with the council reporting system of overflowing bins, poo bins and fly tipping."