Litter louts spark animal injury alert

Dog walker sees rise in waste

A dog walking company based in Perth has warned socalled ‘dirty campers’ and litter louts that they are risking the health of animals with their actions.

Original Walkies owner Vicky Findlay said her staff had reported issues all over the city - including dogs rolling in human faeces.

And she urged people to clean up after themselves, after revealing her own beloved pet nearly lost her leg after stepping on glass.

Rescue lurcher Liz is now back to full health, but the outcome could have been very different.

Vicky told the PA her staff had reported problems at places like St Magdalene’s Hill, both the North and South Inch, Stanley Beach, parts of Scone and at Quarrymill, among others.

She said: “It’s really selfish actually. Any wildlife or livestock that get near it, it’s not nice for them.

“We have had dogs rolling in human poo. If we can bag it and bin after our dogs, then surely they can do the same when they are going camping and make provisions for it.

“With Liz it was a glass bottle right up her leg.

“You also need to think about children, not just animals. How would you like it if a child stood on glass?

“People talk about stepping in dog dirt, but I know what I’d rather step on between that and glass.”

The issue of litter and ‘dirty camping’ has come back to the fore since lockdown restrictions have started to ease and people have been looking to Perthshire for trips.

Many communities across the region have said their areas have been blighted by the issue.

Original Walkies is the longest established dog walkers in the city, and its staff do try and clean up rubbish as they come across it.

But with items such as the human waste, nappies and sanitary towels, they are unable to clear away everything.

The team have also noticed more disposable barbecues being left, an item Vicky described as “terrible”.

Vicky, who now lives in Moray having expanded the business into that region, said: “We always pick it up, but recently there has been so much more - it’s really disgraceful.

“If people can take this stuff out then they can take it home with them.

“I just want people to be more responsible and take the rubbish home and think about other people.

“You don’t need to be a dog lover. It’s just common sense.

“People have been stuck in for so long that when the restrictions were lifted they have come out, but they need to be aware of others.”

How would you like it if a child stood on glass?