The Real Scoop!

Wardens give the thumbs down to dog fouling

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We are all guilty of at some point falling for a big pair of puppy-dog brown eyes, full of unconditional love you’d forgive anything these little rascals did – but some things really are just unforgivable…

Following a recent Participatory Budgeting survey conducted by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) it appears that what we find hardest to forgive is the mess they leave behind – let’s face it, it’s foul!

The survey revealed that the issue tenants and residents would most like to see action against was indeed dog fouling on and around local estates.

Communities First Co-ordinator, Ruth Sillence said: “Everytime we take the children on estate walkabouts we have to keep telling them to be careful of where they are walking. They can’t play safely on the grass without the risk of them treading in something pretty nasty which can be embarrassing for them as well as horrible to clean up.”

Dog fouling is not only unpleasant it is dangerous. The biggest threat to public health from dog excrement is the infection Toxocariasis. Step up RBH’s Juniors Wardens, who have launched their very own Dog Fouling Campaign which they aptly named ‘P.U.P.P.I.E.S.’ - which stands for Pick Up Poo Please In Environmental Sacks - to raise awareness and help tackle the problem.

The Junior Wardens from Kirkholt and Barleyfield, Middleton put a lot of effort into designing and making their own Dalmatian costumes and the first time they were let off their leashes was to attend the Jubilee Tea celebrations on Kirkholt and a funday organised by the Moorclose and Baytree Tenants and Residents Association in Middleton. Whilst there they handed out free pet waste sacks and information leaflets to dog owners.

The novelty idea was really well received and if nothing else made people smile and got tongues wagging!

Junior Warden, John from Middleton said: ‘’My grandma always picks up the poo from her dog and she even picks it up when other people leave it so that we can play on the green safely. She shouldn’t have to do that, people should be responsible for their own dogs’’

The Junior Wardens will continue to highlight the issue at various outdoor social events throughout the summer.

Communities First Co-ordinator, Ruth Sillence added: “Adults and children all agree that to leave dog excrement in community areas could be seen as a form of antisocial behaviour and there are fines for irresponsible dog owners.”

So dog-owners remember, consider your neighbours when walking your pooch, go armed with ‘doggy scooper’ in hand and the Wardens politely ask that you PICK UP POO PLEASE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SACKS! (P.U.P.P.I.E.S.)