About Us

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To tackle the problem of dog fouling, we are:

1. Creating a social media presence that enables responsible dog owners, members of the public and local authorities to come together to 'post & share' fouling offences, provide advice, good practice and create a deterrant for irresponsible dog owners.
2. Forming Local Action Groups to act as a 'boots-on-the-ground' local deterrant.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aims of Dogfoul.org are:

1. To reduce dog fouling.
2. To change the behaviour of irresponsible dog owners.
3. To highlight the actions of responsible dog owners.
4. Create and support local initiatives.
5. To help Local Council's to become more effective in discouraging offenders.

The Objectives of Dogfoul.org will be met by:

Publishing 'Best Practice' and 'Surveys' on this site at:

• Best Practice
• Surveys

Creating and managing campaigns from the Dogfoul.org Action Group.

•  'Grab it & Bin it'  – Bin another poop bag left behind by an Irresponsible Dog Owner. 
• Window Sticker Campaign – Display our "We Watch, You Pay"  sticker in residential and 'place-of-work' windows to show local support and local awareness of the problem.
• Park Days Campaign.  Wear a Dogfoul.org badge in your park, football pitch etc to raise awareness of dog fouling and to establish a visible, local presence.
• Left Something Behind Campaign?  Fouling Offences  and  persistent Irresponsible Dog Owners will posted  in the Dogfoul.org Action Group in order to draw attention to repeat offenders, local problems and hotspots. 

But whats the problem with Dog Fouling?

Today there are around 8.5 million dogs in the UK creating over 1,000 tonnes of dog poo a day!

A 2015 study, led by Professor Christopher Lowe at the University of Central Lancashire, ‘sought to investigate the behaviour and attitudes of dog walkers to picking up and disposing of dog foul.' The study conducted surveys of dog owners and it was found that 3% of owners would not pick up their dog’s poo while 8% said they would only pick it up if it was on a path.

Health Problems 

Dog waste carries lots parasites - including hookworms, tapeworms, ringworms, and Salmonella which can cause digestive upsets, and in some cases, even blindness.

Dog waste is also full of E. Coli and other bacteria such as faecal coliform bacteria, which causes intestinal illness, kidney disorders, cramp and diarrhea. Another hazard is campylobacter bacteria. Infection in healthy adults can cause transient gastrointestinal problems, but can be life threatening to infants, older persons, and people with weakened immune systems. 

In cities the problem is further compounded by rats and other rodents. Dog waste is a leading food source for rats in urban areas. 

Environmental

Dog poop is more than just a gross and unsightly mess - it’s an environmental pollutant. When left on the ground, waste breaks down and ultimately washes into the water supply. This leads to pollution in rivers, streams and other local waterways.

A 2016 survey by the Marine Conservation Society – ‘Great British Beach Clean’ recorded 792 bags at 364 beaches by volunteers during just one weekend. But these numbers don’t show the full scale of the problem; since the beach clean volunteers don’t record unbagged waste and therefore the total amount of dog poo left by pet owners on our beaches remains unknown.

Social Problems

How emotive is this subject? 

A Thug with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has been jailed for 14 years after he murdered his neighbour following a row over a dog fouling - https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/14205267.ocd-thug-jailed-for-14-years-for-murdering-neighbour-after-row-over-dog-fouling/ 

When dog fouling occurs in private areas, such as a garden, these incidents can leave the home owner feeling victimized, angry and helpless. Such situations can become incendiary should the culprit be caught.

When dog fouling incidents occur in public places, it creates a ripple effect of discontent amongst those that encounter the mess. The dog poop often remains in situ for a number of days, and therefore creates and antagonistic reminder to anyone passing.

Data from our own initial surveys highlighted certain early patterns. 

The irresponsible dog owner preferred areas that were either hidden from view, such as long, narrow, winding paths bordered by trees or foliage. The study by professor Lowe also concluded that ‘incidents of dog fouling seemed to be related to the geography of the area and the ability of others to observe (and judge).’

Lowe and colleagues performed an audit of some popular dog walking paths in Lancashire to see how the layout of the land and availability of bins affected the visibility of dog waste. Their findings suggested the picture wasn't simple, with comparable low rates of dog fouling on a path with lots of bins to a path with almost no bins.

One particularly scenic area we surveyed, which had a long distance visibility and no bins resulted in people bagging their dogs' droppings - but then discarding the bag. Professor noted exactly the same behaviour in his Lancaster survey.