DOG owners in West Devon are being urged to ?Pick Up The Problem? as part of a week-long drive to highlight the responsibilities of looking after a dog. The awareness raising campaign, which starts on Monday, aims to draw attention to looking after a dog responsibly, particularly controlling your pet in public places and to the problem of dog fouling. Environmental health officers from West Devon Borough Council will be teaming up with the council?s dog warden during the week and will be visiting popular dog walking sites to talk to owners. They will be circulating leaflets ? ?Picking Up The Problem? ?which outlines dog-fouling regulations in the borough and will also be handing out biodegradable clean-up bags. The council has a strict zero tolerance regime against owners who allow their pets to foul public areas. In the last financial year, the council?s dog warden issued five £50 fixed penalty tickets to dog owners who broke the law. Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, dog owners are required by law to clean up after their pet. If they fail to do so and refuse to pay the £50 fine they could end up in court with a £1,000 fine. Cllr Jayne Hill, chairman of the council?s environment and community committee, said: ?Dogs bring so much joy to their owners? lives but a badly behaved dog or an irresponsible owner can ruin another person?s enjoyment of our beautiful area. ?Dog owners who pick up after their pets set a great example ? and the majority of owners in West Devon do clean up after their dogs. However, those who don?t need to be aware that we will issue fines as a deterrent. ?Responsible ownership benefits the owner and their dog ? so it?s something we are proud to encourage through this campaign.? Environmental health technical officer Dave Arscott said that the campaign would be useful to all residents of the borough and encourage people not to stand by and allow dog fouling but to report the culprits. For further information contact West Devon Borough Council on 01822 813600. l Pictured with Brodie the St Bernard, and Holly, a Springer Spaniel, are from left, John Berryman, West Devon?s Pest Control Officer, Cllr Jayne Hill, Brodie?s owner Emma Boroughs, Murray Cowley, West Devon?s dog warden and Holly?s owner Mary Cowley.