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"DOGS BANNED" "£100 FINE" "CLEAN UP and "OWNERS MUST" - just some of the titles used in a Welsh council's hard-hitting campaign video tacking irresponsible dog owners.

As part of its 'Sort **IT Out' campaign, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has been ploughing more resources into catching irresponsible dog owners.

So much so, that nearly 200 fixed penalty notices have been issued since the campaign started in October last year.

But their no holds barred approach has left some people feeling that they are being "shouted at" and that all dogs are made out to be "nuisances".

As part of their awareness drive last year, RCT council created a video detailing all the new rules dog owners must follow, after a Public Spaces Protection Order came into force in October last year.

It was re-posted to their social media pages over the weekend.

And some dog owners have been questioning the tone and manner of the video, after it was edited using dramatic music, pointed finger animations, warning signs and bold capital letters.

(Image: RCT Council) (Image: RCT Council)

Some of the text used in the video includes:

"Dog owners MUST clean up their dogs’ mess immediately"

"Dog owners MUST carry means to pick up dog mess (i.e. bags) at all times"

"Dog owners MUST follow a direction from an authorised officer to put a dog on a lead"

"Dogs are BANNED from all schools, children’s play areas and marked sports pitches maintained by the Council.

(Image: RCT Council) (Image: RCT Council)

While a number of people commended the council for taking action, some felt the message was a little too strong.

One Facebook user, commenting on the weekend, said: "While I don't disagree, this message seems to be all stick and no carrot. DOGS BANNED ... FINES ... OWNERS MUST.

"I own a dog myself, and like all other responsible dog owners, I comply with the law and requirements for picking up mess, respecting areas where dogs aren't welcome etc.

"I just don't appreciate being shouted at in the manner of this video.

"This video comes across as trying to make out that all dogs are nuisances."

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While, another user wrote: "That's the problem with this approach - those who are responsible and respectable don't need to be told and those that do need to be told either don't care or are just too stupid to realise that it shouldn't be done.

"Why else would they do it in the first place otherwise?"

200 fixed penalty notices

Since October 2017, when the new rules were introduced to tackle irresponsible dog owners, nearly 200 fixed penalty notices have been issued in the RCT area.

As part of the new campaign, the council's streetcare enforcement team has stepped up patrols across the county borough, including hotspots reported via the council’s social media accounts.

People who fail to follow the new rules will be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 - including those who are caught by enforcement officers without dog poo bags.

A post on the I Love Mountain Ash Facebook page over the weekend, said: "Enforcement officers are out checking that dog owners have poop bags on their possession.

"If you cannot produce bags then you will be fined. On the spot facial recognition will be relied on if you give a false name and you will be on the RCT site to identify offenders .

"Just take a few bags with you its a lot cheaper. And saying you have run out of bags while walking isn't a defence.

"Scoop it and bag it keep Cynon Valley clean."

(Image: Facebook/I Love Mountain Ash)

A number of dog owners have also commented on this post, with some describing the hard-hitting crack down as a "joke"

One user wrote: "Getting a fine just because you have a dog and no bag would be the same as getting a fine for speeding whilst being parked up.

"How can you get fined when a crime have not yet been committed? This must be a joke.

"Plus what if your dog has already pooped and you've scooped n binned it? Laughable."

Despite this, a number of people said they agree with the tougher rules and say there's no excuses for irresponsible dog owners.

One user said: "It's not hard to make sure you have enough poo bags with you. No excuses irresponsible dog owners."

While another wrote: "I totally support this. Can we also have the same for litter louts."

A spokeswoman for RCT Council said: “The Sort **IT Out campaign video has been in use since October 2017.

"It is targeted at irresponsible dog owners and aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of allowing your dog to foul in a public place and failing to clean up the mess.

"The choice of music and text is used as it further strengthens the message that the council will take action against those who are caught not picking up after their dog, or walking them in prohibited areas and they will be fined £100.

“The new tougher rules were brought in with overwhelming public support in October as a direct response to the public’s concerns about the amount of dog mess on and in our sports pitches, play areas, schools, streets and villages.

"Almost 200 fines have now been issued to irresponsible dog owners across the county borough.

"The council would rather see a clean county borough and all dog walkers acting responsibly rather than issue fines – which could have easily been avoided if a small minority of irresponsible dog owners had simply followed the rules.”

The council say all revenue generated from the FPNs is invested back in frontline services to further improve services in RCT.

For more information on the new dog fouling rules in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and the Council’s Sort **IT Out! campaign, visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/sortitout .