The Parish Council has been receiving an increasing number of complaints from residents about dog fouling on footpaths and verges and on grassed open spaces where children play.

Apart from being most unpleasant, dog faeces can be a very real health hazard. The eggs of the parasite toxocara canis, often found in dog faeces, can remain in soil long after the faeces have decayed. They may then be picked up, perhaps by children during play, and be transferred from hand to mouth. At worst this can result in blindness and other unpleasant symptoms.

The Parish Council believes that all residents will want to reduce the risk to children in Ponteland and try to make it a cleaner and pleasanter place in which to live.

There is already a Castle Morpeth Borough Council by-law making it an offence to allow a dog to foul a footway (pavement) in Ponteland (maximum fine of £100) and new legislation now enables local councils to make by-laws controlling dogs in parks, open spaces and play areas.

But by-laws can be difficult and expensive to enforce effectively. Common sense costs nothing and if all dog owners in Ponteland followed a few simple rules, the problem would be largely solved and there would be little need for bylaws.

1. Please train your dog to use your own garden or yard and then you can easily clean up after it. This isn't always possible, so have a poop-scoop and/or a polythene bag handy when exercising your dog so that you can remove any evidence it might leave in a place where it could be a nuisance to other people.
Incidentally, if you want a poop-scoop, they can be obtained from the Parish Council Offices for a minimal charge of l0p each.
2. Never take your dog (whether on or off the lead) onto an area intended for children's play or where elderly people live, especially the open spaces in Ladywell Way, Glebe  Close, Eland Green, Coates Green and Thornhill Road.
3. Try to avoid your dog fouling open areas which are intended for public enjoyment where the grass is regularly cut. If your dog does foul these areas, plese clear it up.
4. Never let your dog out unaccompanied - it should always be under control
5. Please make sure that your dog is "de-wormed" regularly - vets now recommend every 6 months.
6. If you exercise your dog in the dark evenings, please remember the same clean up standards will apply.

Dogs make great pets and are important to the lives of many people, but if they are not properly trained, they can become a real nuisance. If you are a dog owner, please make sure that your dog is well trained. If you would like help you can obtain information on how to be a good dog owner by contacting the RSPCA, Causeway, Horsham, Sussex, RH12 1HG