RESIDENTS are being asked to tell Islington Council officers what they think about dog fouling, dogs on leads and dogs being excluded from play areas in Islington.

RESIDENTS are being asked to tell Islington Council officers what they think about dog fouling, dogs on leads and dogs being excluded from play areas in Islington.

The council wants to make public areas cleaner and safer, and surveys of residents have found dog fouling and safety fears caused by dog owners not controlling their dogs in public areas are major concerns.

The council is considering policing responsible dog ownership through dog control orders. It now has powers to issue £80 on the spot fines or even prosecute people who cause problems.

The orders would allow the council to designate certain areas where dog owners could be issued with penalties for offences such as failing to remove dog mess, not putting a dog on a lead when asked to by an authorised officer, not keeping a dog on a lead and permitting a dog to enter an area it is excluded from, such as a sports pitch of playground. Councillor Ruth Polling (Liberal Democrat), Islington Council's executive member for leisure and equalities, said: "We know how important this issue is for residents, so we're already committed to dealing with irresponsible dog owners.

"What we need to decide now is how we should apply these orders - and that's where the public can help us."

The Kennel Club is backing the plans. Spokeswoman Caroline Kisko said: "Provided there are clear signs displaying where the dog control orders are in force, the Kennel Club does not take issue with these dog control orders.

"They are designed to target irresponsible owners without penalising responsible owners, and we recommend other councils follow Islington's example.