Walking with dogs

Everyone wants to enjoy a pleasant countryside experience whilst in the Pentland Hills, and for many this experience is marred by the blight of dog fouling.

Dog fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 

It is an offence not to clear up after your dog in a public place.

Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (section 48)

If you are in charge of a dog and allow it to foul:

• a footpath or footway, or
• a grass verge maintained by a council and next to a footpath/footway, or
• any place maintained by a local authority for recreational or sporting purposes

...you are breaking the law.

Environmental Wardens and the Police can issue a fixed penalty notice and a fine of £80 for failure to remove dog faeces to a suitable waste-disposal receptacle.

Please ensure your dog is in sight especially when you first exit your car. The areas around our car parks experience the highest incidence of dog mess. With an conservative estimate of 200,000 dog visits a year to the Pentlands, you can imagine the extent of the problem if we can't enlist your support!

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code sets out the guidance which applies to dog owners. Please make sure you are familiar with it.

Remember: if you can't see your dog, it is unlikely to be under your control.