DOG owners in four more West Devon parishes could face on-the-spot fines if they fail to scoop the poop from today (Thursday).
Bridestowe, Lifton, Northlew and Sticklepath have joined the twelve parishes which are already working in partnership with the borough council to reduce the problem of dog fouling.
The scheme makes it an offence for any person in charge of a dog not to clean up after it has fouled on land where an Order under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act applies.
An on-the-spot fine of £25 can be levied, or a court prosecution where fines could reach up to £1,000.
Cllr John Hockridge, chairman of West Devon's environment committee, said: 'This initiative is not anti-dog but aimed at the irresponsible dog owner who does not clear up after their dog fouls.
'The public are clearly fed up with a minority of irresponsible dog owners spoiling it for everyone else, and will be pleased that local councils are now working effectively together to tackle this problem.'
The sixteen parish councils and the borough have contributed towards the employment of a new dog warden, who will work in the parishes of Bere Ferrers, Chagford, Exbourne, Horrabridge, Jacobstowe, Lydford, Milton Abbot, North Tawton, Okehampton, Sampford Courtenay, South Tawton and Tavistock, as well as the four new parishes.
The warden will raise awareness of the scheme, promote responsible dog ownership through education and where appropriate will take enforcement action, including prosecutions.
Dave Arscott, borough technical officer, said: 'We are just asking dog owners to be a bit more responsible. What we are looking for is a cultural change. We use the same analogy as smoking — ten years ago you used to be able to smoke anywhere.'
Mr Arscott said although the dog warden would cover a large area, through partnership with the parishes he would be able to target trouble-spots very precisely.
'The same places always crop up — we had a lot of background information before the dog warden was employed,' said Mr Arscott.
He said the legislation was clear and wide-reaching and did not just cover pavements.
Areas affected by the order include car parks, grass verges, parks, river walks, pavements, footpaths, recreation and sports grounds, pedestrianised areas, gutters and roads.
It is not an offence for dogs to foul on their owners property, on land where the owner has given permission, land adjoining highways with a speed limit of more than 40mph, agricultural land, woodlands, moor, marshland, heath or rural common land.
More information can be obtained from leaflets available from the borough council.