The Litter Strategy Team launched a hard hitting dog fouling campaign in August 2009, in response to high levels of complaints and concerns raised by our communities.
By using Photographic images depicting the impacts of dog fouling on different age groups – adult, teenager, baby and using emotive language – shameful, filthy selfish - which describes the behaviour of irresponsible dog owners and addresses them directly.
Together the images and text are designed to confront irresponsible dog owners with the consequences of their actions and (hopefully) shock them into doing the right thing.
The campaign has been promoted widely throughout the council area - displayed on billboards, adshells and posters. Some primary schools have adopted the campaign and personalised it using their own images and slogans, raising awareness around their own school grounds.
You could adopt the campaign within your own area, raising awareness and using our images to display on lampposts around your neighbourhood. We can also provide you with information leaflets about dog fouling and promotional items.
What to do if you witness someone not picking up after their dog
We do not recommend that you approach the owners; however if the dog fouling is a regular occurrence you can contact us on 01324 504981.
If you are contacting us to report instances of dog fouling we will require some specific information:
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Location
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Time
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Description of dog and owner
We will then use this information to assist in programming our patrols and targeting our resources more effectively in these areas.
Dog Fouling. The Facts:
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Estimates put the UK dog population between 6.5 and 7.4 million, producing 1,000 tonnes of faeces every day. (Encams)
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Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 came into effect on 22nd October 2003 to protect residents from the risks and dangers of abandoned dog faeces. (KSB)
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Dog poo causes a significant threat to human health through toxocariasis, an infection caused by roundworm which lives in the intestines of dogs. Parasite eggs can be released in the faeces of infected dogs and if not cleaned up these eggs can become infectious within 2-3 weeks.
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Toxocariasis can occur when someone (usually a child) accidentally ingests small particles of contaminated soil. Symptoms include abdominal pain, cough, and headache and in extreme cases can result in permanent vision loss.
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"A single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria" (Van Der Wel, B. 1995. Dog pollution. The Magazine of the Hydrological Society of South Australia 2(1).)
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There are 312 dedicated dog waste bins across Falkirk and 1371 litter bins, which can also be used to dispose of bagged dog waste.
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We receive around 450 complaints about dog fouling each year in the Falkirk Council area.
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Falkirk Council has issued 318 fixed penalties for dog fouling (£40 fines), with a further 73 warnings, and referred five cases for prosecution.
Also check out our Green Dog Walker| and Litter and The Law| pages.
