Blaenavon traders join campaign to tackle dog fouling

Traders in Blaenavon have joined a campaign to tackle dog fouling in the town. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Shops displaying a Green Dog Walker poster in the window will keep a stock of dog waste bags behind the counter. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Any dog walkers who have forgotten their bags when out walking their dogs in the town can call in and pick up a spare bag. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The sealed bags of dog waste can then be placed in any public bin. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs Beryl McDougall of Phillips Electrical said: “I am a dog owner myself and lots of our customers are dog lovers. It is a shame that an irresponsible minority let the rest of us down. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Having to step over a load of dog mess to get into the shop is not pleasant for our customers, so I think this is a great way to try and tackle the problem.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs Blanche Rowles, a volunteer at Hospice of the Valleys, said: “The people who let their dogs foul on the streets are a disgrace. People can walk through it when shopping in the town and parents get it on the wheels of their push chairs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Now all you have to do is pop into the shop to get a bag, so there is really no excuse not to clean up after your dog.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Lewis Jones, executive member for regeneration, said:
“There is a real problem with dog fouling in Blaenavon town as some dog walkers see their pet’s waste as someone else’s problem to deal with. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I applaud the traders who are taking part in this initiative, and I hope that the irresponsible minority of dog walkers who allow their dogs to foul on our footpaths and in our parks will see their efforts act differently in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Roderick Denley, chair of the Blaenavon Town Team, said: “The Blaenavon Town Team wholeheartedly supports the Green Dog Walker scheme. It gives all dog owners a chance to help secure a clean and safe environment, particularly for our children. Dog owners generally are responsible people but sometimes they forget their bags and having them available in shops helps keep our streets clean.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Torfaen’s Green Dog Walker scheme asked dog walkers to pledge to dispose of their pet’s waste responsibly, and leave ‘only foot prints’ when walking their pets. To find out more visit www.facebook.com/torfaengreendogwalkers ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​