AN Okehampton couple say the problem of dog fouling on a footpath near their home has become so bad they have begun cleaning the path themselves in an attempt to prevent themselves and visitors from walking mess into their home. John and Patricia Feaver, who live in Orchard Close, have written to the Times to highlight the problem of dog fouling on the footpath that links Station Road with Castle Road. The public footpath is used by many people, local residents and visitors alike. There are two properties, including the Feavers, for which the path acts as a rear access and a further four properties where the path serves the front entrance. ?There has for many years been an ongoing problem of dog fouling,? said builder John. ?This problem has escalated over the past few months to a point where it is simply not possible to walk along this path without stepping in dog excrement, particularly at night as the path is poorly lit.? Patricia said: ?The problem is now so severe that we ourselves have taken to cleaning it in an attempt to prevent ourselves and our visitors from tracking the excrement into our home. ?We find it difficult to understand how any dog owner could knowingly allow their pet to regularly foul this footpath and make no attempt to clean up after it.? She said she hoped dog owners could be made aware of the ?feelings of distress and revulsion? experienced by those who had to spend time cleaning up dog mess. John said: ?We also know that there are a minority of dog owners who let their dogs off the lead at the top of this path so that they may use it as a ?doggy toilet? on a daily ? sometimes twice daily ? basis. John said the town council did, to its credit, respond as soon as it is able, whenever they requested it, and he said the borough dog warden did now regularly patrol the footpath, spraying bright yellow marker dye on the offending items. There is an on the spot fine of £60 for anyone caught not clearing up after their dogs, and Mr Feaver said there were at least three signs warning against dog fouling in the area. He said the dog warden had been ?extremely helpful? and was determined to step up his patrols to catch the offenders. ?It would be nice to believe those offending pet owners, who knowingly do not clean up might read this and act more responsibly,? Mr Feaver said.
