A councillor has called on villagers to name and shame dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets.
People in Marsden are furious at the growing problem of dog mess on the streets, parks and playing fields.
Colne Valley Tory councillor Donna Bellamy has called for better education – and fines for persistent offenders.
“There is no excuse for dog owners not to clean up after their pets,” said Clr Bellamy.
“The health risks to children are well known and no-one wants to trail dog dirt into their homes or into schools.
“I would urge anyone who knows any of these offending dog owners to report them to Kirklees Council’s dog wardens.
“If we can give them times and days the wardens can concentrate their resources and catch these people in the act.
“In my view we need to fine them.”
Marsden has long been a dog dirt hotspot but no one seems to know why.
Last October the Examiner reported how friends Julia Meaton and Lisa Stringer set up a website to chart the nuisance deposits using hi-tech computer mapping.
Complaints have continued and this week dog wardens were in the village to raise awareness of the problem and promote responsible dog ownership.
Carrs Road is one of the worst affected streets and on Saturday officials at Marsden FC had to clear their pitch of dog dirt before the under 7s could play.
The club has now banned dog owners from the field and club official Allan Kingdom put an angry notice on a Marsden Facebook page.
He wrote: “I have to question the mentality of dog owners in this village, that they would allow their animals to defecate in a place where not only children under the age of seven years old play but players of all ages.
“It is a well known fact that dog muck is highly unpleasant stuff so why do these people do it?
“The car park is also like a canine toilet with piles everywhere.
“Players are also sick and tired of having to tiptoe around dog mess to get into the changing rooms.”
Mr Kingdom said the pitch and car park was private property and dog owners were “not welcome.”
He added: “There are miles of moorland and open public spaces around here. Stop being so idle and use them.
“Imagine your discontent, dear dog owner, if I took a dog into your garden and let it c**p on your lawn or on your doorstep.”
The Examiner was also contacted by Jonathan Hulme who said Mount Road, where he lives, was also bad.
He branded the offending dog owners “disgusting” and “selfish”.
Mr Hulme said there were more than just a few dog owners responsible for the mess and added: “I think a lot of these people actually know exactly what they’re doing.
“They choose to cowardly go out in the dark so that they can get away with their inconsiderate acts.
“The only way to change their mindset is to fine them.
“It’s very sad that they don’t want to make their own community a better and safer place just by their own actions.
“I think hitting them in the pocket is the wake-up call these anti-social wasters need.”
Young children are particularly at risk from toxocariasis, an infection found in animal faeces, which can cause blindness.
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