Pupils draw on talent in battle over dog mess
DESIGNS AIM TO STOP FOULING OUTSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL
CREATIVE youngsters are hoping their art work will stop inconsiderate dog owners letting their pets foul right outside their school gates.
Pupils and parents at Oak Tree Primary, in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, became sick of the problem so decided to make their feelings known.
Children designed posters and two winners were selected to feature on a banner outside the Queens Road school that asks offending dog owners to be more responsible.
The two whose entries were chosen were Poppy Green, from year two, and Josie Savage, from year five. They each got a book token donated by the PTA.
Natalie Peters, whose children attend the school, helped organise the competition and campaigned to the council about the issue.
She said: “It is early days but there has been a drop in the amount of dog mess since we started this. It hasn’t stopped completely but then you will always get people like that.
“The children produced a great standard of entries and the two that won were particularly great.
“Hopefully, this will help further decrease the problem and a message straight from pupils might make an impact.”
In addition to the competition, an online petition was set up and has attracted 150 signatures.
It is in response to a problem Natalie says first began around two years ago and has got worse over time.
She said: “Not only is dog mess a nuisance but it is a health hazard, particularly to children, which makes it all the more infuriating to find directly outside a school.
“Not all dog owners are to blame, it is an irresponsible minority. It is time we put an end to it and show this minority, and the council, that we will not stand for it any longer.”
Owners caught not picking up after their dog can be given an onthe-spot penalty of £50 or a fine of up to £1,000 on summary conviction via a council prosecution.
Natalie would like this to happen to more people as a deterrent.
Caroline Simpson, from Stockport council, said: “We are aware of this issue and our dog warden has patrolled the area.
“Residents can report dog fouling through our website and give us detailed information about location and time of day, so patrols can be targeted accordingly.
“Requests for street cleaning or signage can be made online.”