Poo on your shoe? Local residents' campaign against dog dirt

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Created on Tuesday, 13 March 2012 03:09

Local residents are demanding that the London Borough of Richmond take action to tackle the menace of dog fouling.What started out as a campaign to ‘clean up north Barnes’ has been extended to the whole borough and residents, schools and businesses are being asked to get behind a petition on the issue.

Fern Gray who is one of the group of concerned parents and residents leading the campaign says:
"My little girl goes to Lowther Primary School. She loves going to school, but what she doesn't like is having to be extremely mindful and careful every morning and afternoon not to walk or scooter through dog foul. The children of Lowther Primary School and the youth club at Castelnau Community Centre are designing posters and leaflets to raise awareness and change the attitude of dog owners in the Borough of Richmond. Dog fouling is a nuisance and can also be a danger, particularly to young children, as it can lead to serious illnesses such as Toxocariasis (round worm infection). Everyday the footpaths in Richmond Borough are littered with dog mess which is hazardous to children on scooters, bicycles, foot and baby strollers and this is undoubtedly being carried into our schools."

Lowther Primary School Headmaster Mark Tuffney says: "In North Barnes we have always been very proud of how we work together as a community. The children and families of Lowther Primary School are fully behind trying to make our local streets cleaner. The school will choose the 10 best designed by the children posters, get them copied and put up around the area – the children's posters will be helping make North Barnes a nicer place to walk. Dogs are cute but their poo is not!"

The campaign has also set up an e-petition that can be signed by anyone who lives, works or studies in the Borough of Richmond. It says: " We, the undersigned, petition the council to introduce an effective 'zero tolerance"policy against littering of dog litter bags and dog fouling; introduce more signage of FPNs; install dog foul bins on or near green grass spaces; issue free dog litter bags; and introduce a major 'enforcement awareness campaign"to inform the public of the consequences of breaking ‘enviro-laws’. When they reach 1,000 signatures Richmond Council will have a debate at their full Council meeting to discuss the issue and come up with rapid and sustainable solutions.
More details of the campaign can be found on their Facebook site.

Fern Gray adds: "We’re asking people to please come forward to volunteer to help their efforts and help in protecting our children and schools against the health and environmental hazards of dog dirt."