18/09/2026
Dog Fouling in the ABPCC Area
There has been a recent increase in reports of dog fouling within the ABPCC area. While most dog owners act responsibly and clean up after their pets, a small number continue to ignore their legal and community responsibilities.
Dog fouling is not only unpleasant but also a health hazard. Below is key guidance from Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to help address this issue:
Bag it - Tie it - Bin it
anyone who does not immediately clean up fouling by a dog is committing an offence under the Legislation Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003
the law covers all public open spaces
you must clean up after your dog on pavements, roads, footpaths, parks, football pitches, communal land, back greens, stairs, closes and any other land that is open to the public
dispose of your dog's faeces in your bin at home or in any public litter bin, do not leave it behind
people who do not clean up after their dog can receive a fixed penalty of £80
police officers can issue Fixed Penalty Notices
Report dog fouling
You can report an incident of dog fouling online or you can contact the Council directly.
If you are reporting a dog fouling issue or offender, provide:
location/s and time of fouling
owner's name and address, if known
description of the dog, including breed and colour
your own contact details
Promoting responsible dog ownership
We are keen to promote responsible dog ownership and have a range of initiatives in place, including:
educating dog owners as to their responsibilities
taking enforcement action against offenders
providing litter bins throughout the Borders for the disposal of dog fouling and general litter
erecting "No Fouling" signs and posters
giving talks to primary school children/community groups
If you wish to display our new poster, you can download it from our Flickr page.
If you would like to request any of the Council's dog fouling educational materials contact Trading Standards and Animal Health online.
