Thoughtless dog owners, ‘we’re watching you’
News release issued:
A campaign aimed at dog walkers who don’t scoop the poop is underway in the district.
Wyre Forest District Council has joined forces with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to reduce dog fouling in key problem areas.
The ‘We’re watching you’ campaign targets irresponsible dog owners. Research shows that dog walkers are more responsible and pick up after their dogs, when they think that they are being watched.
Feedback suggests that dog fouling tends to occur at night-time and during the months with shorter days. This is because some dog owners feel that they can’t be seen ‘under the cover of darkness’. The ‘We’re watching you’ campaign includes signs which are visible after dark.
Councillor John Thomas, Cabinet Member for Operational Services said, “Feedback from members of the public has told us that dog fouling is a key issue in Wyre Forest, that they would like to see tackled. We know that the public perceive dog fouling to be by far the most unacceptable and dirtiest type of litter.
“The vast majority of dog owners are responsible people, who always pick up after their dog and dispose of it correctly.
“We are thrilled to be working with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy on this campaign.”
Not cleaning up after your dog is an offence. Offenders risk a fixed penalty fine of £100 or prosecution in a magistrates' court, which can result in a fine of up to £1000.
Residents can help the council tackle the issue by reporting incidents. Details of how to log an incident and the information required are available on our website.