Do it for your dog – pick up their poo!

Dog owners in North Herts are being told to ‘Do it for your dog’ when it comes to picking up their pet’s poo. 

As part of a new campaign from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, cute dogs including ‘Sarah the spaniel’ and ‘Ben the boxer’ speak directly to owners, depending on whether their owner is responsible or not.

Sarah the spaniel says: “I smile when you bin my poo and my tail wags too!”

Ben the boxer says: “Please pick up my poo.”

One in four households in the UK own a dog and in a survey carried out for Keep Britain Tidy, 83% of dog owners wondered what their four-legged friend would say if they could talk. ‘Do it for your dog’ imagines just what a pet might say to their owner – whether they pick up after them or are part of the 10% mucky minority who admit they walk away!

The council will be promoting the campaign on social media and putting up posters in hot spot areas.

Councillor Gary Grindal, Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health, said: “Allowing your dog to poo in public areas and to not clear up after is totally unacceptable, it astounds me that some people – a minority – don’t pick up after their pets.

“We are launching this campaign now as dog fouling complaints are on the increase as we know that when the weather turns colder, people tend to walk their dogs more locally around housing estates, rather than across fields. The council will of course continue to investigate complaints of dog fouling and patrol problem areas but it is notoriously difficult to control.

“We hope this new campaign, featuring cute dogs thanking and shaming their owners, will make people think twice before leaving their pet’s poo lying on the ground causing an unsightly and potential health hazard. I urge all dog owners to please ensure that whoever in the family walks the dog, that they take a poo bag with them and clear up after their pet.”   

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy said: “Nationally, 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 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.”

Dog poo can carry diseases which are harmful to humans and other dogs.

Please bag it and bin it – any bin will do, a normal street litter bin or your household waste bin.

When walking your dog in a public space, please be mindful of other people and make sure your dog does not approach anyone unless invited to do so. We have received a number of complaints recently about some inconsiderate dog walkers. Please help keep our parks safe and enjoyable for everyone.