NATIONAL POOP SCOOP WEEK

Next week is national ‘poop scoop’ week and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is promoting responsible dog ownership by providing poop scoop bags, free of charge, from reception areas at all Comhairle offices while stocks last.

National poop scoop week highlights the problems of dog- fouling by emphasising the health, hygiene and legal issues concerning dog waste. The aim of national poop scoop week is to get the message across that dog dirt in public places is unacceptable and under the new legislation dog owners who don’t clean up after their dogs can be subject to spot fines of £40.

Cllr. Angus Nicolson, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar’s Chairman of Environmental Services said ‘Responsible dog ownership and cleaning up after your dog helps to create a more pleasant environment for all of us. The health risks associated with dog -fouling are unacceptable and so are the costs of cleaning up after the dogs of irresponsible owners.”

The Comhairle recently launched a poster and advertising campaign aimed at encouraging responsible dog ownership. The UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, organises national poop scoop week and this year will be the fifth year running. Dogs Trust highlights the simple ‘GRAB IT, BAG IT AND BIN IT’ plan to show how easy it is to clean up after your dog.

GRAB IT - Always keep a supply of plastic bags near your dog’s lead so you don’t forget to take one with you on every walk. Simply insert your hand in the plastic bag and pick up your dogs waste, its easy and not as bad as you think.
BAG IT - Carefully turn the plastic bag inside out and your dogs mess will then be bagged.
BIN IT - Dispose of your bag in a ‘poop bin’ however, dog waste can also be put in a public litterbin if a ‘poop bin’ is not available.

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk