Belfast dog owners are being encouraged to sign a pledge to clean up after their pet in an effort to curb dog fouling in the city’s parks and streets.

Last year, Belfast City Council recruited rescue pup Bailey, the King Charles spaniel, to take the lead in its ‘Your Dog Your Job’ campaign and while council has recorded an increase in the number of people picking up after their pets, dog fouling still remains a problem across the city. Now responsible dog owners are being asked to sign the council’s ‘Paws and Pick Up’ pledge. Councillor Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston, chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, said: “While dog fouling is a serious issue, last year’s Top Doggie competition generated a lot of debate around what we can do as a council to help tackle the problem.

Our ‘Your Dog Your Job’ campaign has been hugely successful in raising awareness of the issue; however there are still too many people who think it’s ok not to pick up after their pet.

“This latest initiative is aimed at encouraging owners to take responsibility for their pets, and reminding them that as a dog owner, they are required by law to clean up after their dog.”

Councillor Corr-Johnston added: “We want everyone to be able to go for a walk in their local park and open spaces without having to step around piles of dog mess. I hope dog owners will sign up to our pledge and encourage fellow owners to do the same.”

Anyone wishing to make the pledge should email pawsandpickup@belfastcity. gov.uk with their name and contact details. Dog owners can also help lead by example by sharing a photo of their model mutt on social media using hashtag #pawsandpickup

To find out more about the campaign, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/pawsandpickup

Also, look out for our very own pedigree pooch Scoop Dog who will be at events with his clipboard encouraging dog owners to sign up to the pledge!

Cllr Julie-Anne Johnston-Corr, chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, and Corrina Conlon launch the latest phase of the council’s ‘Your
Dog, Your Job’ campaign.  Leading the campaign is rescue pup Bailey, Belfast’s top doggie.