More than 700 pieces of dog dirt have been collected in a three-month campaign in Everton highlighting the dangers of dog fouling and encouraging dog owners to be more responsible.
Liverpool City Council commissioned environmental operatives from housing association Riverside to take to the streets with a portable vacuum pooper scooper. The backpack operated vacuum sucks up the dog mess then sprays a disinfectant to sterilise the pavement.
The team have also uses stencils and chalk spray to mark and map the mess. They have passed this intelligence to the council’s enforcement team who will use it to identify hotspots and target the culprits.
The environmental operatives are part of Riverside’s Your Place team set up to revitalise neighbourhoods by making them cleaner, greener and safer. The team also includes neighbourhood wardens who act as the eyes and ears of the neighbourhoods they patrol.
Riverside’s Neighbourhood Services Manager Michael Bowles said: “We recognise that most dog owners are responsible and clean up after their pets, but unfortunately there is a small minority who turn a blind eye.
“Dog fouling is the most offensive type of litter on our streets and an issue which causes real concern among our tenants and residents. Dog fouling is not only unpleasant, it is dangerous. For that reason we are committed to tacking the issue.”
Cllr Tim Beaumont, assistant cabinet member for the environment and climate change at Liverpool City Council, added: “We will not tolerate dog fouling. We aim to send a clear message that the minority of dog owners who do not clean up need to take responsibility for their animals and anyone caught failing to clear up after their pet will be fined.
“However, this campaign is about more than just enforcement. We hope to educate and inform residents. We will be encouraging residents to supply us with information on offenders.”
Following the success of the campaign in Everton, Riverside has rolled the initiative out across Sefton, Kensington, Picton, Lee Valley and Dovecot on behalf of Liverpool City Council. Riverside has also been commissioned by Liverpool Mutual Homes to tackle dog dirt in Walton.
Riverside’s Your Place initiative has been shortlisted in the Merseyside Environment Awards in the Neighbourhood Improvement Project category.
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