A COUNCIL is calling on residents to give feedback about whether the district has a dog fouling problem.

Castle Point Council this month launched its online consultation to help tackle the problem.

The questionnaire, available on the council’s website, includes a short series of multiple choice and questions requiring a short description.

Included in the questions are: “Do you feel the Castle Point Borough has a dog fouling problem?

“Are there any specific areas of the borough that you feel have a significant dog fouling issue?”

It goes on to ask residents to describe the time of day the fouling is occurring and a description of people not picking up the waste to help the council with its enforcement.

A council spokesman said: “It is every dog’s owner or person in charge of the dog’s duty to clean up after their dog.

“There are no excuses, fouling is unacceptable.

“Contact with canine excrement can lead to blindness due to an infection called Toxocara canis.

“Castle Point Council has adopted a borough-wide dog control order meaning that any person who is witnessed not picking up after their dog could be fined up to a maximum of £1000.

“Please ensure that you clean up after your dog. If you have dog waste bins within your dog walking route, then please use them. Alternatively clean up your dog waste and take it home with you to dispose of.”