DOG owners who repeatedly allow their pets to foul pavements face being named and shamed as part of a tough new crackdown.
And owners could even have their faces plastered on posters and fixed to lampposts if the city follows the example of trailblazing councils that have launched a major assault on serial culprits.
The city aims to be the first in Scotland to use new Publicity Orders which allow details of people and their offences to be made public,
The worst offenders could also be hit with “doggy Asbos” which include microchipping of pets so owners can be traced.
The campaign will use legislation normally reserved to punish large industrial polluters and flytippers to increase the penalties for dog fouling.
It follows a similar offensive by Darwen Council in Lancashire and Blaenau Gwent Council in South Wales, which exposed repeat offenders on its website following publicity orders obtained through the courts.
Environment leader Cllr Lesley Hinds said the city was determined to keep the streets clean.
She said: “The Scottish Government has passed legislation that increases fines for littering, fly-tipping and dumping quite substantially, and we would like dog fouling to be treated on the same basis.
“We have been pro-active in carrying out various initiatives in local neighbourhoods, and we regularly patrol the streets, but if we really want to deal with the issue of dog fouling we need to crack down on persistent offenders.
“We’re looking at a range of approaches, including increasing fines and monitoring behaviour, but by imposing publicity orders we would hope to deter irresponsible owners.
“Unfortunately, in every community in Edinburgh people will tell you dog fouling is an issue.”
The city is yet to outline in detail how repeat offenders would be exposed but following the example of other authorities their faces could be published on the council website or blanketed around streets and parklands.
Officials will also seek to double the maximum fine following conviction of dog fouling from £500 to £1000 to bring it closer into line with fines for littering.
The crackdown comes in the wake of the Evening News’ Dish the Dirt campaign which calls for stronger punishments on careless dog owners.