Civic leaders and sports groups are calling for dog owners to support the campaign being launched this month called ‘Give Dog Fouling the Red Card.’

Monmouthshire County Council’s county-wide campaign is being strongly backed by Monmouth Town Council’s Environment Committee.

Despite the town council paying for the installation and weekly emptying of 25 dog bins across Monmouth, dog fouling, particularly in open spaces, remains a major concern. Apart from the obvious health issues, especially for younger people, failing to pick up dog waste is totally anti-social.

Although most people take care to clear up, the few who don’t mean that Chippenham Mead, Rockfield Estate and Vauxhall Fields are real hazards to sports players and walkers.

Before any matches or training can begin, volunteers from Monmouth Rugby Club, the town’s football youngsters and Rockfield Rovers have to clean dog mess from their respective pitches. No one wants to repeat the horrible experience of landing on dog mess.

It is not widely known that it is an offence for someone to take their dog for a walk without the means to clear up after it, or that a fine of up to a thousand pounds is payable if dog waste is not cleared up.

You will see the ‘Red Card’ symbol around Chippenham, Rockfield and Vauxhall. The red design on pavements will wash off harmlessly, unlike the faeces which remains a danger in the soil long after it seems to disappear.

As part of the campaign, dog owners can obtain free bags from local vets and the One Stop Shop.

Please deposit the used bag in a bin, one provided or your own.