Oldham Council issued zero fines for people not picking up dog poo in the last two years- despite receiving more than 300 reports. 

The council received 308 complaints of dog poo being left in public places since 2022. 

In 2022, the council received 170 complaints, and then a further 138 in 2023.

While complaints were down, the council still failed to issue a single penalty fine for the offence over the whole two-year period. 

Councillor Chris Goodwin, cabinet member for Don’t Trash Oldham, said: “Dog fouling is an issue that blights neighbourhoods across the country.

“The vast majority of dog owners clean up after their pets, but sadly a small minority don’t.

"If everyone did then there wouldn’t be an issue, and our streets and open spaces would be a lot cleaner and greener.

“Our officers cannot be everywhere at once – if we are given evidence we will take action.

“If you aren’t prepared to clean up after your dog then should you even have one?”

Data from Vitasure, a dog supplement company, revealed the issue and contained information from 271 councils, with Oldham ranked 105th - making the top 38 per cent amount of complaints issued complaints.

Councillor Howard Sykes said: "Every time I speak to everybody about dog fouling, littering or fly tipping- any of the environmental crimes- people want the council to be doing more, not less.

"However, they continue to do less."

Cllr Sykes also said that the council had failed to renew their public spaces protection order, meaning they didn't have the power to prosecute people leaving behind their dog's poo.

He said that while the council now have the orders in place, he finds it 'shocking' they were allowed to expire.

An Oldham Council spokesperson, speaking in April about the lapse, said: "The dog orders did lapse during 2021 but at that time our small team of officers were busy prioritising protecting residents against Covid.

"We are looking to renew them to cover shared public spaces.

“We recently carried out a consultation on a new Town Centre PSPO and five new Place PSPOs, that focus on the alleys behind properties protected by alleygates. These five new PSPOs include terms relating to dog fouling that cover more than 200 alleygated schemes."

When public protection orders are in place, those who do not clear up after their dog are liable to a fine of up to £1,000 if prosecuted or can receive a fixed penalty charge of £50.

The law also states that being unaware a dog has fouled or not having a suitable bag is not a reasonable defence. 

The council stressed that they are simply the ones who must clear the mess, not the ones who leave it. 

Back in October 2023 an Oldham woman said her local park was being 'ruined' by dog poo and had stepped in it herself at least three times over a few months.

Dog waste can, in some cases, cause a sickness called toxocariasis which can lead to dizziness, nausea, asthma and even blindness or seizures.

The number of dog waste bins has not increased since 2023, which Cllr Sykes said is due to them being found to be more of a hazard due to their difficulty to empty and the pests they can attract, and that the council are opting to install more general bins in which the waste can be disposed of instead.