THE number of fines dished out for dog fouling has halved in the Capital, despite residents claiming it is tough to walk down some streets without stepping in it.
Environment leaders claim they are winning the war on dog dirt, with just 144 fixed penalty notices handed out in 2007-8, compared to 289 two years earlier.
But campaigners believe irresponsible owners have just become more cunning about where they allow pets to foul.
Joan Turner, chairwoman of Royston and Wardieburn Community Council, said: "We routinely carry out a survey of what people think is wrong with the area and it still comes up as number one.
"I've noticed a difference on the main roads, but when you get into the housing schemes it is as bad as ever. It is difficult to walk along the pavement in certain areas."
There are also concerns that people are wrapping dog dirt in a bag but discarding it on the ground rather than binning it.
Linda Tarbuck, chairwoman of Leith Links Residents Association, said: "More still needs to be done. What we now seem to be getting is little plastic bags left everywhere. Part of that may be down to the number of bins, I don't think there's enough.
"But some people are just lazy and I would like to see more enforcement action taken against them. Dog fouling is unacceptable and it is down to the owners to take responsibility."
A Keep Scotland Beautiful anti-dog fouling roadshow has just visited Edinburgh. A spokeswoman said: "There's a minority for whom enforcement action is still needed.
"Wrapping it up in a bag and then leaving the bag – that's just daft. That's why we have put out the message that it's not good enough just to bag it, you've got to bin it as well. We get too many stories of trees with bags hanging from them. It is the item of litter that bothers people the most."
However, she confirmed habits are changing and local authorities trying to eradicate dog dirt from our streets are winning the war.
The spokeswoman said: "On the whole people do realise they need to pick up their dog dirt. More and more people all over the country are going with a pooper scooper and picking up after pets."
Councillor Norman Work, the city's deputy health, social care and housing leader, said: "It is a positive step in the right direction to see the number of fines being issued on the decrease, as the message is obviously going through.
"The number of people clearing up after their dogs has grown significantly in the last few years thanks to education and a growing widespread awareness of the risks posed by not doing so. I would encourage residents and visitors to the city to keep up the good work and 'Grab it, bag it, bin it'."
• www.edinburgh.gov.uk
• www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org
The full article contains 506 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
