Tremadog Schoolchildren Lead Awareness Campaign

Children at Ysgol y Gorlan, Tremadog, took part in a campaign recently to raise awareness of dog fouling problems. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The campaign was prompted after the children contacted Gwynedd Council to complain about the frequent presence of dog mess along paths leading to their school, and the distress and anger this had caused them and their parents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd Council’s Tidy Towns Officer, Jonathan Neale then visited the school to talk with the children, who were very keen to do something to help, and readily volunteered to create colourful pictures to be used as signs around the village. They hope the signs will influence the comparatively few owners who create so much annoyance by turning a blind eye when their pets foul public spaces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local Gwynedd Councillor Alwyn Gruffydd, said: “Why should our children have to mind their step on their journey to and from school? Tremadog is a wonderful place to grow up so it’s just not right that our kids should have to be fearful of this health hazard. I’m very pleased that they and Tidy Towns have decided to do something about it – let’s hope the irresponsible few take notice.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd Council’s Member for the Environment, Councillor John Wynn Jones, said: “It’s great to see the children at Ysgol y Gorlan being so creative with Tidy Towns’ help in their response to a serious local environment problem. Not cleaning up after a dog in a public place is a threat to public health, and especially to children who are of course the most vulnerable to the pathogens within the faeces.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many dogs are infected with parasites which can be harmful to people, especially children. Toxocariasis is a disease caused when the eggs of toxocara worms are transferred from dogs to people through infected dog mess or soil. Infection can lead to illness and even blindness. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In Gwynedd it is a criminal offence to take a dog onto designated children’s play areas, school grounds, sports pitches and certain beaches (April-September) or to allow your dog to foul any public space. Offenders are liable to receive a £100 fixed penalty, with failure to pay potentially leading to a court summons and a fine of up to £1,000. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tidy Towns is funded by a grant from the Welsh Government with the aim of improving the quality of the local environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​