Bradford Bonzo - Our Latest Hero

Denholme in Bradford appears to be suffering from litter and dog fouling. Chris Murdoch, the ward coordinator for Bingley and Bingley Rural Wards, is very clear about these issues. In her video, she makes instant reference to dog fouling. A touching transcript of the relevant video can be read here.

The chief weapon in her arsenal is "Bradford Bonzo" (BB). BB teaches the children in a local school about the dangers of dog fouling. It's really interesting to see how times have moved on. When I was younger, we were taught how to cross the road in safety. Now, it appears, crossing the road is no longer an issue as long as your shoes are clean when you reach the other side. Never mind the dangers of the traffic!

Let's all get behind BB and ensure that we "bag it and bin it in Denholme"

Have You Seen A Better Sign?

Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands, we have been running an unofficial "best sign" contest. Some we have published while others now form part of our collection. I feel, however, compelled to publish this one for all to see.

This sign is to be found in Penge in the London Borough of Bromley.

There is little I can say other than "what a beauty". The reason I like it so much is the way (deliberately or otherwise) it links dog fouling with the need to make an emergency call. The emergency number and the anti-fouling sign totally overshadow the non-emergency number. Whatever the intention of the designer, the effect is to encourage a "999" call when a dog defecates.

Bromley has featured here before and, given the commitment of the local authority to dealing with dog fouling, I fancy we will see Bromley here again in the future.

If you know of a better sign, please post a link in the comments for this post. I challenge you to find a mouth-watering example of anti-fouling advertising, which beats this manifestation of near perfection.

Professionals At Work

There's not much I can say about this video. Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands HQ we frequently explore ways to use dog waste in a constructive manner. These young men have certainly found an outlet for constructive activity. That said, we would, of course, never condone criminality!

Don't Dance Around The Subject!

While I understand the message in this video, I cannot get the looking into each other's eyes at the end. What is the relevance? What is the message? I don't know but full marks to North Lincs Council for at least trying. For my part, I would sooner have seen the council worker cover his shoes.

Rev Elizabeth - A Fellow Blogger, A Kindred Spirit

Rev Elizabeth, we thank you for your poem and your picture!

Red rubber bands move us in many directions. Yours has been to poetry! Also, we have had little contact from Ireland (North or South). It is, therefore, humbling to discover that red rubber bands abound on both sides of the water.

I hope you don't mind us making contact in this way. I will post a link to your poem so that all our readers might enjoy it.

I also hope you and Eliot are well!

Read the poem here.

One more shit and the dog gets it.

Blimey, now everyone is at it - using "shock" tactics to try and stop dog fouling taking place in their town.

Forget Hastings - Gary Hackett from Paignton, South Devon has gone one step further and is threatening to shoot any dog he finds fouling his pitch & putt course!!

Gary Hackett said he picks up about 21 dog deposits a day(!!) from his greens at Roundham Gardens.

Now, he has put up hard-hitting posters showing a dog with a gun to its head.

The posters, designed by Gary's son Adam, 19, have caused some alarm. One holidaymaker has said she will not return to the gardens because of them.

But Gary has defended his decision to put up the posters saying he wants irresponsible dog owners to take notice.

He even keeps a dog-dirt diary and has resorted to individually sign posting doggy deposits to shame lazy owners.

Gary, 49, said: "I hope people would see the poster as a joke. But I have to get my message across because I am at my wits end. I am sick of clearing up other people's dog mess which is damaging my greens."

Gary has been branded a dog hater by some walkers in the park. But Gary said he loves dogs and has two of his own on site most days — Thomas the cocker spaniel and Henry the shih tzu.

"I even provide water for people's dogs and I'll give them a treat at the hut. All I ask is that people clear up after their pets and keep them under control."

Gary, who leases the green from the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, said that he has even found mess in the putting holes!

He said: "The day dog-walkers blame the night dog-walkers and the night walkers blame the day. I have even camped out at night to try and catch them at it."

If a dog can get a hole in one with one of its shits, then don't shoot it Gary, put it on the stage :-)

Hastings And "Foul" Language, Right Or Wrong? You Decide!

Hastings council has adopted a radical approach to shocking the public into appreciating the dangers of dog fouling. As the examples below clearly demonstrate, they have resorted to the use of "foul" language.

As it states on the Hastings Council website; "Dog mess on the streets and in parks is one of our residents' major concerns and we take it very seriously which is why we're launching a hard hitting campaign over the rest of the Summer."

The BBC website reports a local resident as saying; "What kind of impression does this give of the town? And for children - I don't want to be explaining to children why they can't use that word but it's ok to see it on posters."

So there we see a public united in opposition to dog fouling but divided on the use of language. Ultimately, it is for you, our readers, our public, to decide.

Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands HQ, we have debated the issue at length. After much soul searching and detailed argument, we have decided that it is funny! Anything, which is funny and opposes the menace, which runs through our streets, is ok by us.

Meanwhile, if you go to Hastings, it is clearly awash if this poster campaign has been declared to be necesary. Therefore, go ready to clean your shoes before returning to your chosen form of transport.

Do not leave with haste from Hastings!

Hastings article here.

BBC article here.

Keep Britain Tidy - Brief Statistics

Statistics are quite boring but these are very meaningful. I will keep this post brief. Keep Britain Tidy advises us that, in 2008, the UK dog population was estimated to be 7.3 million, producing approximately 1,000 tonnes of excrement per day.

I think we need say no more.

Full article here.

Poole Council Takes Advice From This Site

Over 12 months ago, while advertising"National Poop Scoop Week", this site celebrated the idea formed by John Wood, Sherwood Forest Community Ranger. John had decided to paint piles of dog excrement fluorescent pink to warn members of the public (archive here).

Who would have thought that Poole Council would visit this site and take up the idea? After finding some 200 piles of mess in an alley near Poole High School, the council has decided to paint the deposits green.

Opposition Lib Dem Councillor Brian Clements described this as a "bizarre thing to do". Shaun Robson, head of environmental services, stated; "unfortunately, we have a small minority that don't seem to get the message", the emphasis is mine. Brian seems to have missed the hidden humour in his statement.

I now regard my Poole vases as being even more valuable. I suggest the following strap line:

Mess With Poole And We'll Paint Your Stool!

Full article here.

Christchurch - "Steamer" Point Nature Reserve Lives Up To Its Name!

Christchurch has decided to take the menace of dog fouling seriously and has declared that any person that is known to be a repeat offender will not be given the option of paying a fixed penalty of £50. They will instead be reported for prosecution and conviction which could lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

This seems to have been prompted by the issuing of two fixed penalty notices for dog fouling at the "Steamer" Point Nature Reserve. I can just imagine the strap line, which the council could use in its new campaign.

Don't Leave a "steamer" at Steamer Point.

There also appears to be some kind of strange cult in existence at Christchurch. Councillor Ray Nottage observes: "It's often more difficult to catch offenders because they allow their dog to do its business at night or when there's no-one around". Does this relate to some form of witchcraft? Why would anybody be crawling around a nature reserve at night allowing their dog to defecate with impunity? As portfolio holder for a "safe and healthy community", it's time Ray turned his attention to the wider implications.

For now, I'm just happy to see Christchurch taking its place in the campaign.

Christchurch, where time is pleasant and fouling never present!

Full article here.

Dog Fouling Meets With An ASBO

Margaret Strathearn

Have a look at the picture above and ask "would you argue with Margaret"? Then, imagine that she is accompanied by a large German Shepherd. I have no hesitation in stating that I would think twice. If you feel that way also, then you would indeed be wise!

Margaret lives in Lower Addiscombe Road in Croydon. She decided, however, that she would exercise her dog outside two nearby blocks of flats. She allowed her dog to defecate all over the garden. When this was pointed out to her, she replied with a torrent of abuse. As one elderly resident put it: "there's nothing we can do. Her arms are twice as big as my waist. She could take a grown man down". Once again, I refer you to the picture.

Full marks, however, to Croydon council antisocial behaviour unit. They warned her, they filmed her, they obtained an interim ASBO (antisocial behaviour order). This site has seen the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act used to combat dog fouling (archive here), now we see an interim ASBO being granted. This is progress indeed.

Croydon Today points out that Margaret lives in a block of flats and any act against her could distress others living there. Would this include excrement through her letter box? This is, of curse, a purely rhetorical question as, here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands, we could never condone or encourage such an act, I cannot stress that enough!

I leave you with the words of councillor Dudley Mead: "To use dog fouling as a way of antagonising and upsetting others is both repulsive and bizarre". Amen to that, Dudley!

Full article here.

Once Again, The Dangers of Dog Fouling Become Clear

There's not a lot I can say about this. Here at Dog Fouling and Red Rubber Bands we repeatedly warn of the dangers of dog fouling. People often just won't listen. This video gives stark warning of the dangers. I can only advise that you check and clear your lawn before mowing!