Scottish Borders Council brings in stencilled messages to combat dog poo

Anti-dog fouling stencil - Image credit: Scottish Borders Council

Scottish Borders Council has launched a new stencil campaign in a bid to combat dog fouling.

Stencils telling the public to ‘clean it up’ will be spray-painted in temporary chalk-based paint on pavements and paths in problem areas across the Borders.

The stencils are part of the council’s responsible dog ownership strategy, which includes a video by Hawick High School pupils, a poster campaign and a Green Dog Walker scheme to encourage members of the public to help change attitudes to dog fouling in their area.

The council has also appointed two enforcement officers, who can issue £80 fines for dog fouling and dropping litter, as part of a 12-month pilot with external contractor 3GS.

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Councillor David Paterson, Scottish Border’s Council’s executive member for environmental services, said: “The stencils have a very clear, straightforward message – clean it up.

“We hope the message will remind people of their responsibilities as dog owners who should be picking up after their pet whether in the countryside, in town or beside a sports pitch.”

The council takes the issue of dog fouling seriously, Paterson said.

“For those not willing to listen, there is now the real threat of an £80 fine through the appointment of enforcement officers as part of the year-long pilot,” he added.

According to Scottish Borders Council, the strategy follows extensive research to consider best practice from other local authorities across Scotland and the UK.

The campaign is similar to West Dunbartonshire Council’s award-winning ‘Do the Right Thing’ initiative, where 2,200 anti-litter and anti-dog fouling messages were powerwashed onto streets and pavements across the region.

This saw an average of 31 per cent reduction in litter at four audited sites and a 28 per cent drop in residents who thought dog fouling was a major problem in the area.

The West Dunbartonshire scheme won the Communications Award at Holyrood’s Scottish Public Service Awards 2015 and is shortlisted for the Local Matters Award at this year’s COSLA Excellence Awards.