Is enough being done about ‘escalating’ dog fouling?
By Andy Mitchell - Local Democracy Reporter 2nd Oct 2026
Questions prevail over whether Warwick District Council is doing enough to combat problems with dog fouling.
The matter was publicly raised with the district's portfolio holder for safer, healthier and active communities Cllr Jim Sinnott 11 months ago.
Despite querying whether more enforcement could or should be commissioned, Cllr Sinnott committed to looking at what could be done.
Since then, the district's community wardens have been handed the responsibility following the retirement of the district's one part-time dog warden but councillors agree that the scourge shows no sign of abating.
At this week's meeting of full council, Cllr Paul Wightman reported a "spike in feedback" over and referenced Cllr Sinnott taking to social media to express his frustration over dog fouling in August.
"The problem does seem to be escalating, and I think that's something you've noticed yourself," he said.
"You noted it was out of control, that it was everywhere and that you didn't quite know what was happening with it, asking for ideas from members of the public."
He asked whether Cllr Sinnott had looked into the matter since it was last raised in October 2025, whether he was satisfied the council had "sufficient resources to tackle this issue" and how many fixed penalty notices the council had issued in relation to dog fouling over the past 12 months.
Cllr Sinnott confirmed that just two fixed penalty notices had been issued, both in 2025, but insisted the problem would not be solved through punitive measures.
He said that adding this to the duties of community wardens "provides greater resilience, covering a wider geographical area with multiple authorised officers able to undertake enforcement activities".
"In essence, we have broadened our ability and our response to such incidents," said Cllr Sinnott.
"I think you are talking about Woodloes at the moment but Warwick town centre has increased space for this activity.
"Officers have put up signs, trying to dissuade, but I still don't think we can enforce our way out of this. It is for dog owners to take responsibility for their animals.
"The vast majority are responsible but there are those who aren't. Do we enforce it? Do we need a whole raft of dog wardens? I don't think that is the answer, I think we need to change our societal attitude towards it but I take your point."
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