ANGRY residents in Barrhead are kicking up a stink over a selfish dog walker who has been dumping pooch poo in their gardens.

The messy problem has infuriated families living in the Paisley Road and Victoria Road area of town.

One fed-up resident fought back by placing bags of discarded dirt in a crate on the pavement, with a sign which read: “To the dog owner dumping their dog poo on our hedge…you have been seen. Take this back to your own house.”

Neighbours have complained about bags of poo being left on the pavement outside their homes or even hidden in their garden hedges.

A concerned resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Barrhead News: “To go to the bother of putting the dog mess in a bag and then dump it in someone’s garden is the total pits.

“Animals had torn some of the bags open and the smell was awful.

“There has been six bags of it dumped so far. It is the same bags, so it’s clearly the same person doing it.

“This could easily encourage rats. We are not having rats in the properties here just because someone wants their own place to remain free of dog mess.

“We’ve left it for the person to take home, as they have been seen.”

The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 makes it an offence for anyone in charge of a pooch in a public space, including communal areas, to fail to clean up after their pet.

East Renfrewshire Council has warned dog walkers they could pay a hefty price if they fail to pick up their pooch’s poop.

A spokesperson said: “Dog fouling is a particularly unpleasant occurrence and something we find as disappointing as our residents.

“Our wardens’ presence on patrols leads to dog owners picking up after their pets and, therefore, it can be difficult to catch offenders in the act.

“While these patrols are designed to identify and issue enforcement notices, their ultimate aim is to encourage this important change in behaviour. We also conduct plain clothes operations in areas that residents tell us they have concerns about.

“We take dog fouling seriously and encourage our residents to be responsible dog owners and help keep East Renfrewshire clean for everyone to enjoy.”