North Wales Wildlife Trust is urging dog owners to do the right thing and pick up after their pets as part of a new national campaign from Keep Wales Tidy.
Although an estimated nine out of ten dog owners pick up after their pets, dog poo remains a persistent issue in neighbourhoods across the country. Keep Wales Tidy’s campaign aims to raise awareness of the health risks associated with dog poo; not just for humans but also for livestock and other pets.
Dog poo that’s left behind can carry harmful bacteria which can remain in soil long after it has decomposed.
The nationwide campaign is being run as part of Caru Cymru (a Welsh phrase meaning ‘Love Wales’) – an inclusive movement led by Keep Wales Tidy and local authorities to inspire people to take action and care for the environment.
Based on research by behaviour change experts, bright pink signs, posters, pawprint stencils and bin stickers will be appearing across North Wales to ‘nudge’ people into making the right decision.
Chris Wynne, Senior Reserves Manager at North Wales Wildlife Trust said:
“It is very important that dog owners clean up after their pets. North Wales Wildlife Trust are asking dog owners to do this to protect wildlife, livestock, and other users.
With so many dogs now visiting our most popular nature reserves on a regular basis, we want to avoid the local enrichment that occurs when dog waste is simply left to rot. We also do not want other visitors – including school children and our volunteers or staff – encountering such waste and the associated disease hazard it may pose.
And there is also a significant risk to cows, which play an important role in grazing at some of our nature reserves. Neosporosis is a dangerous disease that can affect dogs and cause abortions in cattle; it can be transmitted both ways between stock and dogs.
Every dog owner can play their part.”
Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Lesley Jones said:
“We’re excited to be launching this important campaign with our local authority partners. As a nation of dog lovers, we should all be aware that dog poo isn’t just an unpleasant mess, it can be dangerous.
“We’re urging the small minority of irresponsible dog owners to do the right thing. By not picking up after your dog, you could be putting people, livestock, and our beloved pets at risk. Please bag it, bin it and leave only pawprints when you’re out and about.”
