Maria Francini falls foul of the law after failing to clean up her dog’s waste

Maria Francini failed to clean up after her dog went to the toilet on a grass verge

Maria Francini, who let her dog foul on the street and failed to clean up the mess, has been ordered to pay more than £600 by a court.

Ms Francini, of Buckley View, Rochdale, was ordered to pay a fine of £200, along with £425 costs and a £20 victim surcharge after her dog was caught fouling on a grass verge in Buckley View on 3 November 2014.

Bury and Rochdale Magistrates’ Court heard that Ms Francini was caught when enforcement officers from Rochdale Council witnessed the incident, which happened when the dog was wandering around on its own. The officers then followed the dog back to Ms Francini’s property and she admitted the dog was hers.

She was handed a £50 fixed penalty notice, but failed to pay. A further three letters were sent, but Ms Francini ignored all council correspondence. She was convicted in her absence on 7 July of failing to clean up after her dog.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It’s totally anti-social to let your dog foul in the street and not bother to clean it up. It’s not something other people should not have to put up with. In Ms Francini’s case she’s learned the hard way after seeing her initial £50 fine balloon to more than £600 because she chose not to engage with the council.”

Anyone who witnesses dog fouling should report it at:

jhttp://www.rochdale.gov.uk/eforms/anti-social_activity/dog_fouling.aspx

...or phone 0300 303 8884.