Scents Of Summer - Poop Scoop Week Is Back

It costs British local councils £22 million per year to clean up after the country's 7.5 million dogs. Collectively our dogs produce about 1,000 tonnes of faeces every day and it seems we have grown tired of picking it all up. Keep Britain Tidy says that following earlier reductions, levels of dog fouling offences have recently risen.

Smelly

Significant dog fouling was present in over 8% of 19,000 public sites recently surveyed. Keep Britain Tidy also reports a growing problem of dog waste bags found hanging on trees, railings, stuffed in hedgerows.

Nappy Sacks

Dog waste can be disposed of in a normal litter bin - it is not an offence to do so.

Squishy

In the Keep Britain Tidy survey - The Word on our Street 2009, dog fouling was rated as the most problematic local environmental quality issue by the public.

Campaign

National Poop Scoop Week begins later this month (26 July). Dogs Trust is joining Local Authorities to urge more dog owners to Bag it and Bin it.

Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust Chief Executive:

"We want Poop Scoop Week to be about saying thank you and well done to the millions of well-behaved dog owners, but also to remind the irresponsible minority that their dog can't pick up after itself.

If every dog owner fulfils their duty we can all look forward to summer strolls and picnics in parks free from the worry of dog poop! Let's make Poop Scoop Week the week everybody takes responsibility – we will be amazed at the difference we can make."