Say Hello to POOch
Fylde Borough Council, as part of its vow to combat dog mess around the Borough, is introducing POOch.
POOch is the new name for a public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging dog owners to “Bag it” and bin their pet’s mess.
Last month the Council acknowledged that it was aware of an increasing problem of dog fouling in public spaces and promised to tackle the issue before it gets out control. Thanks to funding from the Local Strategic Partnership, Council officers have created POOch to help spread the message against dog mess on our streets.
Councillor Cheryl Little, Ward Councillor for Fairhaven and the lead Councillor on the POOch campaign, said: “As a dog walker I see just how bad the situation is particularly around my ward. With more visitors coming to the area during the summer we need to make sure they are not faced with the mess we currently see. Our residents shouldn’t have to put up with it either. We don’t want to be too hard on dog walkers as many of them are responsible and welcomed but they must be reminded of the importance of removing the mess. POOch is a light hearted nudge in the right direction.”
POOch posters and banners will be displayed in public spaces, especially in parks and on beaches where the problem is most prolific. Eventually it is hoped the campaign will spread to include working with supermarkets and shops to remind people to keep their carrier bags that can then be used to pick up dog mess as an alternative to dog bags.
POOch will also be spreading the word on the fines and enforcement that can be imposed on people that are not picking up after their dogs. The dog wardens can issue fines of up to £50 to dog walkers who do not clear away their dog’s mess.
Councillor Tim Ashton, Cabinet Member for Environmental Wellbeing, said: “The majority of dog walkers are responsible and do clean up after their pets, and are more than welcome to enjoy the many open spaces we are lucky enough to have here in Fylde, but, as usual, it is the minority that are spoiling it for everyone else. There are plenty of bins and special dog bins along the promenade and in the parks so there really is no excuse not to bag it and bin it. Even if there is no bin in the area once the faeces is in a plastic bag it can be carried until you get home in the same way any other rubbish can be.
“It is not just the sight of the fouling that puts people off. There are serious health implications for members of the public that come in to contact with the mess. Children should not be stopped from playing in our parks because of the amount of dog mess.
“I urge people to take note of the message – ‘Bag it and bin it.’ Whether it is in a park or a roadside gutter, remember, the rain does not wash the problem away, we have to do it ourselves.”
Dog faeces carry harmful infections, the most widely known being Toxocariasis. Human toxocariasis is potentially a serious infection and is a direct consequence of soil or sand contamination with faeces carrying eggs of the parasite. Eye disorders are the most commonly reported complaint associated with Toxocariasis, although other symptoms are vague aches, dizziness, nausea, asthma and epileptic fits. Dog faeces will only contaminate the soil when it has been left on the ground for this period of time, so if owners immediately clean up after their dog the threat of toxocariasis would be virtually eradicated.
The council is currently consulting residents on the introduction of dog control orders in some areas of the Borough to strengthen enforcement of byelaws that are in place that say dogs should be on a lead in the area. Log on to www.fylde.gov.uk to give your views or write to Corporate Resources, Fylde Borough Council, Town Hall, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 1LW. Consultation ends on 03 may 2009.
Last Edited: 27/04/2009