Carlisle City Council is backing the UK’s largest dog-welfare charity’s campaign to make this summer poop-free.

During this year’s National Poop Scoop Week (Monday, 26 June – Sunday, 1 August) local dog-owners will be urged to clean up after their pooches to make 2010 the cleanest summer ever.

Dogs Trust says that though there are over eight million dogs in the UK. The charity is urging all dog owners to get behind the campaign and help the country’s canine citizens. Dog fouling costs councils £22million a year to clean, and remains the country’s most complained about issue. Locally, there is an estimated 15,000 dogs in the Carlisle City Council area producing three tonnes of faeces every day – enough to cover 17 football pitches each year.

Clarissa Baldwin OBE, Chief Executive, Dogs Trust, said:

“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 your dog can’t pick up after himself. 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 poo! Let’s make Poop Scoop Week the week everybody takes responsibility – we will be amazed at the difference we can make.”

The council wants to work alongside local people to tackle anti-social behaviour such as graffiti, litter, dog fouling, fly-tipping and fly-posting.

Carlisle City Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Local Environment, said:

“Unfortunately, it is the minority giving the majority of responsible dog owners a bad name. It is every owner’s responsibility to clean up after their dog so that everyone, including dogs, can enjoy our public parks and open spaces.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• Figures for January 2009 – January 2010, show that 80 warning letters were sent out to dog owners who were reported as breaking dog-fouling laws; 58 fines (fixed penalty notices) were handed out for dog-fouling. Five resulted in further court action, in each case this resulted in a successful prosecution, totalling over £900 in Magistrates’ court fines.
• Dog fouling is a serious health issue due to toxocara canis, transmitted through worm eggs in dog faeces. Further information on National Poop Scoop week is available at www.poopscoopweek.co.uk