A NATIONWIDE initiative to tackle a rise in dog fouling has been joined by Redditch Borough Council.
The campaign, in partnership with ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ comes in the wake of growing reports of dog owners failing to pick up their pooch’s poo and leaving in the streets and in parks.
Now the council is encouraging all dog owners to ‘do it for your dog’ and clean 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 per cent of dog owners wondered what their dog would say if he or she could talk.
‘Do it for your dog’ imagines what the pets would think about their owners – whether they were the responsible ones who did clear up after their pets or they were one of the 10 per cent of dog owners who, in the last 12 months, admitted they had walked just away without picking it up.
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 borough.
Redditch’s portfolio holder for environmental services, Councillor Brandon Clayton, said: “This campaign is funny, but behind the humour is a really serious message.
“The amount of people purchasing and owning dogs has increased during the pandemic, but dog fouling is an offence and you can be fined for it if you are caught.
“More than that though it’s about being a responsible member of your community. So ‘do it for your dog’ and for your neighbours and pick it up!”
Any dog fouling hotspots can be reported to the council on 01527 881188 or report or online at www.redditchbc.gov.uk/litter
