St George’s dog owners are being urged to pick up after their pets or face heavy penalties.

Town officials are clamping down on owners who fail to clean up after their animals have defecated in a number of public areas, including Ordnance Island and Somers Gardens.

St George’s Corporation secretary Courtney Trott explained that the problem was difficult to police because the majority of offenders walked their dogs either before or after regular working hours, when staff were not on duty.

But he said Corporation employees would now be patrolling through the town during the early mornings and evenings in a bid to clamp down on the problem.

“We are having some serious issues with regard to people walking their dogs and allowing them to leave faeces — they’re not collecting it as they’re supposed to do under the law,” he said.

“It’s becoming a real issue for the staff who have to deal with it. So we are going to have people out enforcing the law and making sure that people know what the law is.”

Offenders will be issued with a letter informing them that they are breaking the law and asked to clean up after their pet.

The letter states: “The situation has gotten so severe and is not only having an impact on the daily work of our staff but also members of the public as the faeces are being left not only in our parks but on our streets and sidewalks as well.

“After consultation with the police, it has been decided that any individuals who are in contravention of the Dogs Act 2008 will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“This sort of behaviour on the part of dog owners will not be tolerated in the town, as it is not only inconsiderate to the Corporation of St George’s staff who have to deal with the faeces, but also to the visitors and those individuals who live and work in the town.”

Owners who fail to pick up after their dogs could be hit with a fine of up to $10,000 and be jailed for up to six months.