THE owner reported for allegedly allowing one of his dogs to foul a local sports ground and failing to clear up properly, has hit back at what he labels the 'continued slagging off of dog owners'.

In last week's Andover Advertiser, another resident, David Cosham, revealed he had reported the incident to the local authority and pressed for irresponsible dog owners to be prosecuted.

Mr Warwick insists he is a responsible owner and says a dog warden, who visited him after the alleged incident, agreed. "I allowed him into my house and promptly produced doggie bags and toilet roll from my dog walking coat.

"Also in my garden were filled bags of excrement which I bring back while street walking.

"He departed on good terms and I got the feeling he was a little embarrassed as he had picked on the wrong one.

"I am acquainted with Mr Cosham. I assume I'm the dog owner in question and need the right to reply."

Mr Warwick added: "To be honest I'm getting - and I expect other dog owners are - fed up with the continued slagging off of dog owners through the media and would suggest that people look in St Mary's churchyard or the High Street on a Sunday morning and many other areas where human rubbish is turning this town into a tip.

"As Mr Cosham says, what is the point of making a law and not acting on it?

"If it was between dog owners failing to pick up their animals' mess or humans failing to pick up their rubbish, "I know who would come out the winners."