Attention Dog Walkers

New campaign lets dogs do the talking to encourage owners to pick up their poo

Bromsgrove District Council have joined a prominent environmental charity’s campaign in a bid to tackle dog fouling.

The new campaign to tackle the blight of dog fouling is being launched in Bromsgrove next week, in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy.

After reports of increased dog fouling during lockdown, the council are encouraging all dog owners to ‘do it for your dog’ when it comes to cleaning up after their four-legged friends.

One in four households in the UK owns a dog and, in a survey carried out for Keep Britain Tidy, 83% of dog owners wondered what their dog would say if he or she could talk. ‘Do it for your dog’ imagines just what they would say about their owners - whether they were the responsible ones who did clear up after their pets or if they were one of the 10% of dog owners who admitted that they had walked away without picking up in the past 12 months.

In the new campaign, Sarah the Spaniel and Ben the Boxer will be ‘speaking’ directly to owners – through the wonders of technology – on social media, as well as being featured on posters in hot spot areas around the district.

Councillor Margaret Sherrey, portfolio for environmental services, said: “It’s hard to catch people in the act when it comes to dog fouling and our team can’t be everywhere at once - but it is a fineable offence. I hope this awareness campaign makes irresponsible dog owners think twice about not picking up after their pets.

“Getting out for a walk is more important than ever and it’s not fair that it is spoilt by a small minority of people. We are all in this together and have a responsibility for the area we live in, as well as to the animals we keep as pets.”

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy said: “We are delighted that Bromsgrove District Council is working to tackle the issue of dog fouling. More than 50% of people tell us that dog fouling is a problem where they live so dealing with the issue is important if we want everyone to be able to love where they live. ’Do it for your dog’ is a new way to get the message across to dog owners that they need to clean up after their pets.”

If residents wish to report dog fouling hot spots that require a clean-up, they can call 01527 881188 or report it online at www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/litter