Bolesławiec Municipal Police:
We once again remind all owners of domestic animals of the applicable regulations requiring them to clean up after their pets. This follows unambiguously from the applicable regulations on maintaining cleanliness and order in the city of Bolesławiec, which state in § 16 that “A person under whose direct supervision (care) a domestic animal remains, in areas intended for common use, is obliged to immediately remove contamination left by that animal.” It should be stressed that this obligation applies not only to dog owners, but also to owners of other domestic animals. Failure to comply with this law may result in a fine imposed by a municipal police officer or police officer, amounting to as much as PLN 500.
The officers stress:
Even the smallest fine for failing to clean up after a dog is therefore considerably less pleasant than picking up dog waste and throwing it in a bin.
They add:
However, it should not be the penalty in the form of a fine that motivates us to clean up after our pets, but above all, a sense of decency, aesthetics, social responsibility and concern for the common good. If you use a public area, remember that other people also have the right to enjoy its cleanliness; after all, nobody likes seeing dog waste.
They also point out:
Meanwhile, it should be noted that uncollected waste poses a serious threat to all people and animals. Children face the greatest risk, as they are more exposed to bacteria found in animal waste. As is well known, when playing in a sandbox or on the grass, small children pay little attention to what is around them, and when they accidentally get dirty, they do not immediately run off to wash themselves. From there, it is very easy to become infected with parasites and zoonotic bacteria. It should be remembered that these bacteria threaten other animals as well, since your pet may develop health problems through contact with another animal’s waste. Carelessness can expose others to the risk of losing their health.
They also appeal: – By setting an example for others, you will show that cleaning up after your animal is not an embarrassing activity, but a normal habit of a responsible resident.
And they conclude: – The incomprehensible reluctance to clean up after one’s animal is fortunately slowly declining, but despite greater awareness among dog owners, there are still situations in which people do not clean up after their pets and, as it often turns out, have “dog poop bags” with them.
Recently, municipal police officers—following a report from a monitoring operator—intervened over a failure to comply with this obligation in a city park, a place where children play. The officers:
The offender who was fined explained that she paid taxes so that someone would clean up her dog’s waste for her. Failing to clean up after the dog proved entirely unprofitable, as the woman, in addition to receiving a fine, was ordered to clean up the waste, which she did. The monitoring operator also observed an incident in which a person walking two dogs cleaned up waste from only one of them.
The officers comment: – This is all the more incomprehensible because it demonstrates an awareness that this is their obligation, yet they selectively comply with the law.
They also inform:
(…) dog-waste bags purchased by the Bolesławiec Municipal Commune are available free of charge at the headquarters of our unit during working hours:
- Monday to Friday: 08:00–18:00
- Saturday: 10:00–20:00.