Survey reveals Cardiff has the least number of dog fouling complaints in the UK

A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to 50 UK councils has found that Cardiff received the lowest number of dog fouling complaints from 2015 to 2022.

The FOI, which was produced by householdpets.co.uk, revealed that Cardiff Council was sent a total of only 20 dog fouling complaints in those eight years - an incredibly small number in comparison to other cities.

For example, the City of Edinburgh Council recorded the most amount of dog fouling complaints - 19,098 - followed by the City of Glasgow Council - 17,076 - in the same amount of time.

Furthermore, Belfast received 16,386 and Northumberland County Council 11,344.

Despite the low number of complaints over the past eight years, in August, ITV reported that a rugby club in the capital stopped playing 12 times because of dog fouling on Llandaff's Hailey Park pitch.

The same issue has also been found at other locations in the city, including Pontcanna Fields and North Ely Recreational Ground.

In 2018, the council proposed banning dogs from marked public pitches due to the danger dog fouling possesses, but the public's disapproval of this meant it was unsuccessful.

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A spokesperson for Household Pets explained:

"Although City of Cardiff Council has the fewest complaints in the UK, the council must continue to work to reduce dog fouling offences further, if new reports in recent years are anything to go by.

"As well as having a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in place, allowing authorised officers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN's) up to £100, Cardiff Council has a non-confrontational campaign called 'Leave Only Pawprints'."

The City of Edinburgh Council received the most dog fouling complaints from 2015 to 2022, at 19,098 - Credit: Household Pets

The spokesperson continued:

"The campaign sees locals become "Champions" after signing a pledge, recognisable by wearing a 'Leave Only Pawprints' badge, and carry extra poo bags to hand out when dog owners do not have any of their own."

To view Household Pets' full report, visit householdpets.co.uk/dog-fouling-statistics

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