'Name and shame' call over dog fouling in Market Drayton

People in Market Drayton have spoken of their frustration at the amount of dog owners who do not clean up.

Dog mess can be a health hazard for children who come into contact with it. It can cause a condition called toxocariasis, which in extreme cases can cause blindness.

Residents have taken to the Drayton Crier Facebook page to call for irresponsible dog owners to be named and shamed.

John Edge said: "Name and shame these totally irresponsible idiots who should not be allowed to own dogs if they don't understand the responsibilities that go with it."

Ray Jennings said: "It doesn't take a second to clean up after your dog. Wonder if they'd leave it on their own property."

Helen Cartwright said: "If your dog fouls then pick it up. Take a few bags with you. On the few occasions my dogs did something that couldn't be picked up I had a bottle of water with me to 'wash' it to the kerb. No excuse."

Rebekah Gould said: "It's a huge problem. We've had several cases outside our front door on Shropshire Street and twice someone has also walked the dog up our drive to do its business which is just horrid.

"The pavements into town are terrible. We're tempted to put up CCTV."

Councillor Roy Aldcroft, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "Once again I note that residents are up in arms about irresponsible dog owners failing to scoop the poop. At a council meeting prior to Christmas I gave a personal commitment that I would put together a forum in the new year.

"Once all the Shirehall staff and enforcement agencies are back in their offices I will try and bring appropriate officers and members of our community together to try to reduce this problem."