What is Green Dog Walkers?
The Green Dog Walkers Campaign was the idea of a local community group (Community Green Initiative) from Denny and Dunipace who approached the Litter Strategy Team for advice and support to help develop their idea.
Green Dog Walkers (GDW) is a non-confrontational, friendly way to change attitudes about dog fouling in the Falkirk Council area. Volunteers wear a GDW armband which signifies that they have "Taken the Pledge" to always:
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clean up after their dog
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carry extra dog waste bags
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be happy to be approached to 'lend' a dog waste bag to those without
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be a friendly reminder to other dog walkers to clean up after their dogs
The Green Arm Band acts as A Friendly Reminder…to please pick up after your Dog!
The Story so far…
It was never anticipated that the campaign would grow as quickly as it did and gain as wide a following of supporters. Initially the campaign was only to be a one year pilot project within Denny and Dunipace. However during the year there has been a great deal of interest and the scheme has been rolled out throughout the Falkirk Council area.
We have over 400 volunteers in the Falkirk area wearing the GDW armbands as well as 9 community group partners who are managing their own schemes within their neighborhoods.
How you can become a Green Dog Walker?
Sign the pledge on the GDW form (PDF, 148KB)|, send it to us and we will post you out a GDW armband.
Or
You can run your own scheme by adopting the GDW in your area.
To adopt the GDW you need to:
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be a constituted community group
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administer the project e.g. distribution of materials, meeting mailing costs, etc.
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help with promotion of the campaign in your area
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help with the monitoring and evaluating of the campaign at a local level e.g. before and after surveys, participate in questionnaires sent and feedback on the number of armband wearers approached to ask for a dog bag etc.
The Litter Strategy Team have created a GDW starter pack, free of charge for groups who wish to adopt the scheme:
The Starter Pack
It is proposed that the pack will contain:
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150 armbands (adult and child sizes)
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150 leaflets (with pledge forms included)
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10 posters
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A box of dog waste disposal bags
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Poop scoops
In addition to providing the starter packs The Litter Team will provide ongoing support and advice to all groups signing up to Green Dog Walkers, helping to promote the campaign Council wide.
Please get in contact if you are interested in rolling out the campaign in your local neighborhood or would like some more information. We will be happy to meet and discuss the project in more detail.
For further information call 01324 504433 or email greendogwalkers@falkirk.gov.uk|.
Trade Marked
Due to the amount of interest the GDW campaign has received from outwith the Council area we have trademarked the scheme to protect the successful brand and message that it has created.
However we do not want to restrict anyone from adopting the scheme. If you are a local authority, private organisation or a voluntary organisation and wish to adopt this scheme in your area please contact the Litter Strategy Team for further information.
The Facts...
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the Scotland Dog Fouling Act 2003 fines from £40 - £500!
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52% of UK households have a pet
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there are 7 million UK dog owners!
However, it IS SAFE to clean it up "on the spot"!