THEY go through the effort to bring a poo bag out with them and even pick up the mess their dog has made – before hanging it up like a Christmas decoration and walking off.

It’s one of the biggest gripes of responsible dog owners who dispose of their pets’ mess in the correct way, but just why do people do it?

With enforcement teams and councils cracking down on dog owners across the country, it’s a wonder that so many poo bags are still seen across Merseyside hung on trees, causing not only an eyesore but a major health and safety hazard.

Here we look at why people do this, and whether they can be fined if caught.

Is it an offence?

In a word, YES. Although dog fouling rules vary from council to council, it’s generally the owner’s responsibility to pick up the poo and put it in a dog waste bin provided by the local authority.

Even though the mess is bagged, this would be viewed as “knowingly discarding bagged waste”, and, depending on location, the culprit could be given an on-the-spot fine of between £50 and £80.

Refusing to pay the fine could mean a court summons and fine of up to £1,000.

What do councils in Liverpool City Region think of it?

Cllr Matthew Patrick, Wirral Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “Once bagged, dog mess can be put in any public bin. There are more than 4,000 out there across Wirral and many of them situated in the areas where most people visit.

“If there isn’t a bin immediately to hand, carry it with you until you come across one. Don’t, under any circumstances, think it is an acceptable alternative to leave bagged dog mess behind or hanging from a tree. This is still an offence and if caught you will receive a fixed penalty notice for littering.”

A spokesman for Sefton council said owners who leave dog poo bags are “are not responsible and have no regard for their community”. He said since July 2017, the local authority has had a Public Space Protection Order across the borough informing certain rules that must be followed, and can be found by visiting: www.sefton.gov.uk/thegooddogcode

A Halton borough council spokesman said he “cannot understand what drives people to do this”, adding: “To go to the trouble of picking up after your dog only to then go on to commit a littering offence seems bizarre.

“People should pick up after their dogs and that waste should then be deposited into a bin.”

Why do people do it?

The general consensus is that it’s down to laziness – similar to the reason why it’s suspected so many people litter.

Some believe people think they are being “helpful” by hanging bags of dog poo up on trees or fences. Others say they see it as a show of protest that there are not enough dog waste bins, or they are not being emptied enough.

What is being done about it, and what can residents do?

Given the nature of dog fouling, it can be very difficult to stop, but there are ways residents can help if they see examples of the problem on a regular basis.

Councils across Merseyside have online forms where the offence can be easily reported, particularly in places where dog fouling is a “real problem”.

Wirral council, for example, gives the information submitted to enforcement partners Kingdom, who use it to help them target their work.

Most councils across the country take the issue very seriously and many, like Sefton, have already introduced PSPOs and other measures to crack down on the problem.

In Wirral and Halton, public consultations into tougher rules for dog owners are at different stages.

Earlier this year, Wirral council’s consultation prompted a huge public outcry that saw the council backtrack on out and out bans for dogs on beaches during the warmer months. Results of the rest of the proposals – including that owners are required to carry poo bags – are yet to be released.

What can dog owners do to set a good example?

Speaking to the BBC Countryfile magazine about the issue, Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Dog owners should always clean up after their dogs and dispose of the waste appropriately and the vast majority do, however a small minority who do not can give all dog owners a bad name.

“A lack of bins in an area, particularly public footpaths through the countryside and woodland areas can be frustrating, but is not an excuse to hang dog waste bags in trees or leave them on the ground as some people seem to do.

“Owners should keep their dog waste bags with them until they can find a dog waste bin or regular litter bin, or should take it home with them to dispose of it properly.”

Animal welfare charity Dogs Trust also say that if there are no specific dog waste bins available, it is possible to put bagged mess in a public litter bin.