A new campaign to crack down on dog fouling

Breckland Council has joined up with a national environmental charity to launch a new campaign aimed at reducing dog fouling in the district.

The ‘We’re watching you campaign’ was successfully piloted by Keep Britain Tidy last year at sites across the country. It is aimed at dog walkers who don’t pick up after their dogs.

Breckland will soon roll out a small number of signs at carefully selected sites in each of the district’s five market towns and surrounding areas. The posters include the image of a pair of eyes and the slogan ‘bag that poo, any bin will do’ to remind dog owners to make use of the nearby general waste and dog poo bins.

The signs are made from a material which remains visible after dark, so the message can be seen no matter what time of the day dog walkers are out with their pets.

The innovative campaign has been informed by research which has shown that dog walkers are more likely to pick up after their dogs when they think that they are being watched. The Keep Britain Tidy pilot, which used the posters and was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), saw an average reduction of 46% in the levels of dog fouling.

Cllr Lynda Turner, Breckland Council’s Executive Member for Community and Environmental Services, said: “The vast majority of dog walkers are very responsible and pick up after their animals. This campaign aims to remind those who may be tempted to leave it that it is not acceptable.

“Dog fouling isn’t a big problem in the district, but when it does occur it is deeply unpleasant for residents, who often tell us that it is by far the worst type of litter. We’ve teamed up with Keep Britain Tidy to help make sure our outside spaces remain enjoyable for everybody.”

Dog owners should pick up after their dog and dispose of the poo bags in the nearest general waste or designated dog poo bin, or by taking home to dispose of it in their own household waste bin.

Residents can inform the council of litter and dog mess by using the ‘report it’ button on Breckland’s website: www.breckland.gov.uk/content/report-litter-and-dog-mess.

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