DOG wardens are stepping up their war on lazy pet owners who still allow man's best friend to foul public parks and play areas.
The move was revealed after a Rottweiler owner was ordered to pay fines and costs of hundreds of pounds for letting his animal foul a recreation ground in Paddock.
According to the most recent figures from the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign, 1,000 tonnes of the muck are cleared up every day around the UK - produced by an estimated 6.5m pooches.
And now four Kirklees dog wardens are determined to punish offenders.
Culprits can expect a fine of anywhere between £50 and £1,000.
John Stead, Kirklees Council's senior animal welfare officer, said: "People now have no excuse for not cleaning up after their dog.
"If it isn't cleaned up, then the cost is met by all local council tax payers."
He added: "The problem has stabilised but it's not something that's going to go away because we still have irresponsible dog owners."
Daniel Ward, of Reed Street, Marsh, appeared at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court.
He was fined £110 for allowing his Rottweiler to foul Jim Lane Recreation Ground, Paddock, last year and was ordered to pay £225 costs.
The Rottweiler was spotted by a dog warden on November 19 last year. Mr Ward made no attempt to remove the mess.
Mr Stead said: "He just tried to tell us, basically, he wasn't aware of dog fouling being an offence which of course now, after so many years of the law being in place, is not an excuse any more."
The Fouling of Land Act came into force in 1996. There are also scores of signs around Kirklees reminding dog owners of their responsibilities to clean up.
The culprit was initially charged a £50 fixed penalty fine. But, after wardens realised he had given a false address to escape the charge, they took the matter to court.
Mr Stead said there were a number of ways of disposing of dog muck.
The best option is to train a dog to `go' at home and then dispose of the mess in special double-lined plastic bags in the bin. Many different pooper-scoopers are now available on the market to help make the cleaning-up job simple and sanitary for owners.
Mr Stead said: "Bags now have got scent built in so you don't even smell anything afterwards."
