Once again the UK is to welcome in Poop Scoop Week. Promoted by the Dogs Trust, the national event, which will this year run from 26th July, aims to encourage dog owners to pick up after their pooches in a group effort to keep our streets clean and disease free. The Dogs Trust explains that whilst the majority of dog owners are responsible and always clean up after their pets, there are still some irresponsible dog owners that do not see the need to own a poop scoop or even a simple poop bag.
Dog Mess Costs UK Tax Payers
Every year, cleaning up our streets costs the country’s councils an estimated £22 million! It is understood that MPs receive more complains about dog mess than any other issue! The UK is currently home to around 7.5 million dogs, which produce around 1,000 tonnes of faeces every day. In a recent survey of 19,000 public spaces, significant dog mess was noted as present in approximately 8%.
GRAB IT, BAG IT AND BIN IT!
The Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, who works endlessly to help improve the lives of dogs and their owners. Working with the campaign slogan “Grab It, Bag it and Bin It!”, National Poop Scoop Week aims to remind dog owners of 3 simple rules:
GRAB IT – Using a dog poop bag, grab your dog’s mess. Always keep clean poop bags near your dog’s lead. They are simple to use, and if you’re a little squeamish, take along a glove so you can’t feel anything.
BAG IT – Turn the bag inside out to make sure it is ‘bagged’. Make sure that the end of the bag is tied so you don’t have any accidents.
BIN IT – With the introduction of specific dog waste bins in local areas, many mistakenly believe that dog mess cannot be put in public bins. However, it is NOT an offence to dispose of dog mess in public litter bins when a specific dog waste bin is not available.
Tips for cleaning up dog mess
- Always carry a dog poop bag
- A Poop Bag Buddy can save you having to carry your dog’s mess or place it in your pocket
- Your dog can’t clean up after itself
