‘Bag and Flag’ event aims to clean up dog mess at park

BAG it and bin it – that’s the message to dog owners in Carmarthenshire.

The council is supporting the national ‘Big Scoop’ campaign launched by the Dogs Trust and Keep Britain Tidy.

The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of responsible dog ownership and encourage people to clean up after their dogs.

Although Carmarthenshire is one of the cleanest counties in Wales; dog mess on pavements, parks, sports pitches and beaches is one of the most common complaints to the council.

To highlight how much of a problem it is; a ‘Bag and Flag’ event was held at Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park in Tumble.

Flags were used to show just how much dog mess had been left behind by irresponsible dog owners.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “I was shocked by the amount of dog mess at Mynydd Mawr Park. Hopefully the flags will help to make a difference. They have been left there so that those dog owners who are guilty of not cleaning up after their pets will see them and hopefully it will shame them into picking up in the future.”

Figures show that there are some eight million dogs in the UK and 39% of households have at least one dog – that’s a lot of dog mess and if left can lead to serious health risks.

One of the main risks is toxocariasis which if passed to humans can cause all sorts of health problems, including blindness.

Council environmental enforcement officers regularly patrol the county and can issue fixed penalty notices for £75. The maximum fine if it goes to court is £1,000.

Cllr Jones said: “We don’t want to fine people, but we have no choice if we want to keep Carmarthenshire clean. We want to get the message out there that if you fail to pick up after your dog, then you will be punished.”

People are being urged to help the council tackle the problem by reporting dog fouling in their area under the ‘Dog Watch’ scheme. Officers can then target those areas and hopefully catch the offenders.

Report dog fouling at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/dogfouling or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.

CAPTION: Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones and Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park Ranger Dewi Wagstaff at the ‘Bag and Flag’ event to encourage dog owners to clean up.

Picture: Jeff Connell.