Get in the running to help cut down dog poo

Daily exercisers are being called upon to record the scale of Scotland’s dog fouling problem.

Keep Scotland Beautiful is seeking community support for its #turdtag initiative.

With people making more use of the open and greenspaces to exercise during lockdown, the environmental charity says it is concerned that reports of dog fouling are increasing.

Evidence gathered in surveys last year by the charity showed that 10 per cent of surveyed sites were blighted by dog poo.

Now volunteers are being asked to identify a 100 metre stretch of their local road, path or walk through a local greenspace and, whilst exercising and in accordance to Government guidance, count, then submit information on the number of instances of dog fouling (bagged and un-bagged) that they find.

The information will form a new data set to be used to increase awareness and drive action to tackle one of Scotland’s worst environmental complaints.

KSB campaigns manager Paul Wallace said:“It is extremely disappointing that the thoughtless actions of irresponsible dog owners means that our shared enjoyment of our local open and green spaces, and a brief escape from the stresses and strains of the current situation, can be ruined.

“That is why Keep Scotland Beautiful is calling on individuals and families to take part in #TurdTag, helping to gather evidence from communities across Scotland to get an accurate picture of the scale of this problem – it is simple and easy to take part as part of the daily exercise allowed in guidance from the Scottish Government.”

Results should be submitted to cleanup@ keepscotlandbeautiful. org by May 11 and shared using social media and the hashtag #turdtag.