‘Dog mess is an abuse of Le Guet’

‘Pretty much every bike had dog mess on its wheels and everyone setting up the course the day before had it on their shoes,’ Velo Club president Mark Smith told the Guernsey Press after the winter mountain bike series event at Le Guet last week.

‘It’s a really popular event because we can’t normally ride there, there’s a variety of terrains and it’s safe so lots of riders can take part. We have been holding our annual event there for the last seven or eight years and there’s always dog mess that has not been picked up but this year was – by far – the worst I have ever seen,’ he said.

‘Some riders even had it on their clothes and it flicks up so if you’re following another rider it can be really disgusting.’

Although he recognised many owners do pick up after their dog, the small minority of ‘selfish dog owners who fail to’ are abusing a public recreation area of the island.

‘We recognise some dog owners do [pick up after their dog] and it’s probably just a small percent that doesn’t but it’s making a disgusting mess for people that use Le Guet.

‘We use it once a year but there are people that do 365 days a year and I have heard of lots of people who have stopped going there because of the amount of dog mess left not picked up.’

A lady who walks her dog at Le Guet daily said she often finds dog mess on her shoes when she gets home. The woman who wished to remain anonymous said: ‘I always make sure to pick it up and it is a shame when other dog owners don’t do the same.

‘Most owners are very conscientious but it’s a shame when people don’t abide by the rules.’

She then questioned how or whether penalties are applied to walkers who do not pick up their dog’s poo.

A spokesperson from Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services said dog fouling increases during winter months when early morning and evening walks are in darkness.

‘It only takes a few thoughtless people who use an area regularly and don’t pick up their dog’s poo to create the unpleasant mess described by the organisers of the Velo Club’s race meeting at the weekend.’

Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services is responsible for maintaining many of the parks, nature trails and coastal areas and recommends keeping dogs on a lead until they have ‘relieved themselves’ to ensure cleaning up particularly early in the morning or winter evenings.

They also acknowledged that there are similar problems on the cliff paths and coastal grasslands.

There are signs and bins year round at Le Guet and additional temporary signs reminding dog walkers of their responsibility to clean up were installed on Wednesday.

Eddie Graham frequently walks at Le Guet for some fresh air although is being ‘considerably put off’ by the amount of dog poo he sees which has not been picked up.

‘It’s like a game of dodge the [poo] when I come here,’ he said.

‘It’s not often I see people not picking it up on purpose but if a dog runs off a bit and does a poo the owner doesn’t always see it.

‘I do think people should take a bit more care because it ruins it for the rest of us who don’t want to stand in it.’

The Control of Dogs Ordinance, 1992 requires the person in charge of the dog to pick up any fouling. Those who fail to do so risk a fine or possibly prosecution.

‘Anyone witnessing a person not clearing up after a dog is asked to contact Land Management Services on aclms@gov.gg or by calling 234567 during office hours,’ a spokesperson said.

‘A description of the dog and the person in charge of it, together with the date, time and place the offence occurred would be welcome. If a vehicle is involved the make, colour and registration number is very helpful.’