Dog fouling awareness campaign
Dog owners in Harlow are being reminded to pick up after their
dogs foul in a public place. Harlow Council took the
opportunity to send out this message during “National Poop Scoop
Week” which took place last week.
Harlow Council officers supported by the Police have been
handing out information and providing free dog poo bags to local
owners. Officers were in the Town Centre on Friday (27 June) and
spent sometime in the Bush Fair area. This week officers are
continuing the campaign targeting hot spot areas, some of which
have been identified by the public.
Councillor Eddie Johnson, Chairman of the Council’s Environment
& Community Committee, said:
“The start of summer is the ideal time to repeat this very
important message to dog owners. Dog fouling is a common concern of
local people. Most local owners are responsible when it comes to
this issue. Unfortunately, a small minority still let the rest
down, which gives all dogs a bad name. Therefore we are urging
every dog owner to get behind this campaign. The Council does
provide dog waste bins and runs campaigns like this handing out
free bags to make it as easy as possible for dog owners to clean up
after their pets. We hope the campaign helps to encourage all dog
owners to clean up so everyone can enjoy the summer in our parks
and open spaces free of dog mess."
Cllr Johnson, added: “Not picking up dog mess
is not just bad for the environment. Dog mess also poses a serious
danger to our health. Dog faeces may contain worms that can cause
serious eye disorders in adults and children.”
It is an offence not to clean up after a dog and failure can
lead to a fixed penalty notice of £50 and failure to pay this may
lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1000. Anyone with
information about a regular offender is requested to report it to
the Council on (01279) 446655.
The Dogs' Trust campaign is based around the phrase “GRAB IT,
BAG IT AND BIN IT”, which is a simple plan for owners to
follow...
- GRAB IT - Always keep a supply of plastic bags near your dog's
lead - supermarket carrier bags make great poop scoops - so you
don't forget to take a poop scoop with you on every walk. Simply
insert your hand in the plastic bag and pick up your dogs waste.
It's easy and really not as bad as you may think.
- BAG IT - Carefully turn the plastic bag inside out and your
dogs mess will then be 'bagged'.
- BIN IT - Dispose of your bag in a 'Poop' bin. Contrary to
popular belief, wrapped dog waste can also be put into a public
litter bin if a specific dog waste bin is not provided.
Research carried out by ENCAMS, which runs the Keep Britain Tidy
Group, regarding public attitude towards litter and refuse
consistently shows that dog fouling is at the top of the list with
regard to the level of concern and offence caused. There are 190
dog waste bins located across the town.