24 November 2014

Dog Fouling & Keep Britain Tidy

‘We’re watching you’ campaign launched

Dog fouling campaign rolled out nationwide after successful social experiment

A new dog fouling campaign is to be launched in November, aimed at dog walkers who don’t scoop the poop.

Rochford District Council has joined forces with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy in a bid to reduce dog fouling in key problem areas of Rochford District.

The campaign sets its sights on irresponsible dog owners, with recent research showing that dog walkers are more responsible, and pick up after their dogs, when they think that they are being watched.

Keep Britain Tidy recently conducted a social experiment, working with 20 land managers across the country including Rochford District Council, that saw an average reduction of 46% in the levels of dog fouling and a 75% reduction in the Rochford District. Feedback suggested that dog fouling tends to occur at night time and during the winter months, as some dog owners feel that they can’t be seen ‘under the cover of darkness’.

Rochford District Council has signed up to the edgy and uncompromising poster campaign to tackle dog fouling hotspots. The ‘We’re watching you’ series are visible after dark and use innovative, cutting-edge materials. The social experiment was the first time such a material has been used on a poster.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Councillor Keith Gordon said, “Feedback from our residents has told us that dog fouling is a key issue in Rochford District, that they would like to see addressed. The vast majority of dog owners are responsible people, who habitually pick up after their dog and dispose of the poo bags correctly, either in the nearest bin or by taking home to dispose of in their own household waste bin. We are thrilled to be working with Keep Britain Tidy, and being a part of such a cutting edge campaign. We hope that we will see the same results as we achieved during the trial.”

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Phil Barton said: “We are delighted that Rochford District Council is joining with us for this campaign. Our research tells us that people see dog fouling as, by far, the most unacceptable and dirtiest type of litter. This campaign has been proven to make a difference and encourage the minority of dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets to do the right thing.”

Note:

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and to live more. We are run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.