National Poop Scoop Week
Monday 25th July – Sunday 31st July 2011
Each summer Keep Scotland Beautiful teams up with the Dogs Trust to promote National Poop Scoop Week throughout Scotland. The week-long campaign reminds dog walkers in a fun and friendly way to clean up after their dog – and of the £40 penalty they could face if they fail to "grab it, bag it, bin it".
How you can take part
Whether you are part of a community group, work for a local authority, or are just fed up with dog poo in your neighbourhood, there are many ways you can take action as part of National Poop Scoop Week 2011.
Anyone
- Ask your local vet, pet shop, or library to display posters/leaflets asking people to clean up after their pet.
- Organise a sponsored dog walk around an area where there is a lot of dog poo.
- Reward dog walkers who clean up after their pet by handing out cards inviting them to take part in a prize draw.
- Host a dog show, agility display, or family fun day and make sure the dog fouling message is spelled out at the event.
- Make sure your local newspapers and radio stations know about your efforts to get people to clean up after their pets. They may even agree to running a joint campaign.
- Contact your local council to find out how they are taking part in National Poop Scoop Week.
- Invite your local MP, MSP, or Councillor to get involved, eg by attending a photo-shoot. Dog poo is one of the most common problems that people complain to them about, so it's in their interests to get involved!
Local Authority
- Hand out free dog poo bags to dog walkers in a problem area.
- Arrange a free identity chipping service to attract dog owners to your event and remind them of their responsibility to clean up after their dog at the same time.
- Arrange for council enforcement officers or community wardens to target a specific problem area, so they can give warnings or fixed penalty notices to offending dog walkers.
- Update your website so your "dog fouling" pages link to this campaign page.
- Team up with your countryside rangers, dog wardens, waste enforcement officers or any other colleagues affected by dog fouling to discuss how you can work together.
- Use the campaign as an opportunity to publicise what you’re already doing to address the problem of dog fouling, what you’ve done in the past and what you’re planning for the future, eg the installation of additional dog poo bins, the number of fixed penalty notices issued or stopline services.
If you are planning an event as part of National Poop Scoop Week 2011 please contact us so we can promote what you are doing on this website.
The message
By taking the following important steps, the problem of dog fouling can become a thing of the past in Scotland:
- GRAB IT - Always keep a supply of bags near your dog's lead so you don't forget to take them with you on every walk. Simply insert your hand in the bag and pick up your dog’s waste.
- BAG IT - Carefully turn the bag inside out to "bag" your dog's mess.
- BIN IT - Dispose of the bag in a bin. Dog waste can be put in a public litter bin if a specific dog waste bin is not provided.