Pawprints to bins appearing across Wales to combat dog fouling

Keep Wales Tidy’s dog fouling campaign sees bright pink pawprints leading to bins appearing across the country.

The ‘leave only pawprints’ campaign is based on research by behaviour change experts to ‘nudge’ people into doing the right thing and picking up after their pets.

Bright pink pawprints leading to bins is the next step in guiding people to dispose of their dog poo responsibly. It is one of many interventions Keep Wales Tidy are using to combat dog fouling across Wales, alongside bright pink signage, posters and bin stickers.

Although an estimated nine out of ten dog owners pick up after their pets, dog poo remains a persistent issue in communities across the country. Dog poo can pose a risk to human health but also to a number of other animals too.

To promote positive and responsible dog ownership to the minority of dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets, bright pink pawprints are being painted across Wales to easily guide people to the nearest bin.

These eye-catching pawprints are accompanied by bin stickers and signage to make it as easy as possible for people to find a dog poo bin and do the right thing.
Jemma Bere Keep Wales Tidy Policy and Research manager

Ysgol Tir Morfa has recently taken part in the campaign by spraying bright pink pawprints and #BagItBinIt at Brickfield Pond in Denbighshire.

The students really enjoyed getting involved in this worthwhile campaign with our local Keep Wales Tidy project officer. It was fantastic for them to learn about the impact of dog fouling and how to dispose of dog poo properly.

The bright pink pawprints will make it easier for dog walkers to find the nearest bin and dispose of their dog’s poo responsibly. We love to help keep our local community clean and litter free – if you’re walking your dog around Brickfield Pond please bag and bin your dog’s poo.
Mrs F Hoare Ysgol Tir Morfa

The nationwide campaign is being run as part of Caru Cymru (a Welsh phrase meaning ‘Love Wales’) – an inclusive movement led by Keep Wales Tidy and local authorities to inspire people to take action and care for the environment.

Find out more and download free materials.

Caru Cymru has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.