Council clamps down on dog fouling with ‘It only takes a minute…’ campaign
Dog walkers were treated to a free ‘Doggy Bag’ on Middleton Beach, Wednesday 29 August as Arun District Council launched a campaign to tackle dog fouling.
The “It only takes a minute, to bag it and bin it…” campaign is aimed at the minority of dog owners in the district who don’t pick up after their pets.
The free 100% recycled bags contain helpful ‘educational’ items such as dog poo bag holders which clip onto dog leads and dog treat bags, both branded with the campaign logo.
A video has also been launched on social media and the council website to push home the “It only takes a minute…” message.
Starring a young girl urging owners to pick up after their dogs while walking her own pet pooch, the video is set on the Greensward and beach at Middleton-on- Sea.
This location was chosen to tie in with a Southern Water £31.5 million Bathing Water Enhancement Programme to boost seven beaches in the water company’s catchment area up to Excellent standard, including Middleton-on- Sea.
Funded by Southern Water, the campaign was launched at Middleton-on-Sea at the end of the summer, but “It only takes a minute…” message covers the whole of the Arun district, all year round.
Councillor Stephen Haymes, Arun District Council’s Cabinet Member for Technical Services, said: “This is a community campaign which is designed to play on the conscience of the minority of dog owners in the district who don’t pick up after their pets. And if that doesn’t work, we will take enforcement action against those who continue to ruin these public areas which are supposed to be enjoyed by all. There are no excuses.”
Councillor Paul Wotherspoon, Arun District Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, who also represents Middleton-on-Sea, said:
“The Council receives a lot of complaints about dog fouling, urging us to tackle this issue and that is exactly what we’re doing via this campaign.
“Thoughtless dog owners are ruining other people’s enjoyment of the beaches, parks and other beautiful open spaces that Arun has so many of, but we believe this campaign will make irresponsible dog owners think twice before letting their dog foul and not picking up after it.”
Offenders face a maximum penalty of £1,000 for not picking up after their pets under the scheme, which is operated by EH Commercial Services Ltd.
Anyone who witnesses a dog owner not picking up after their pet, is urged to call the reporting hotline on 01903 737755.