Dog Fouling Awareness Campaign 2026

Working Together to Keep Our Communities Clean

As autumn approaches and daylight hours reduce, we traditionally see an increase in concerns relating to dog fouling in parks, open spaces, footpaths and residential areas. While the vast majority of dog owners act responsibly, dog fouling remains one of the most common environmental complaints received by local authorities and communities.

Shropshire Council is asking Town and Parish Councils to work with us to identify local hotspot areas where dog fouling is causing concern, enabling us to target resources where they will have the greatest impact.

Responsible Dog Ownership

Dog owners have a legal responsibility to clean up after their dogs. Bagged dog waste can be:

• Deposited in any public litter bin;
• Placed in designated dog waste bins; or
• Taken home and disposed of in a household refuse bin.

Bagged dog waste should not be left beside bins, hung from trees, fences or hedgerows, or discarded in the countryside. While the waste may be bagged, leaving it behind still constitutes littering and creates an unpleasant environment for residents and visitors.

Dog Warden Patrols

Shropshire Council's Dog Warden Service carries out patrols across the county to:

• Monitor areas where dog fouling has been reported;
• Engage with dog owners and provide advice;
• Gather intelligence regarding offenders; and
• Undertake enforcement action where appropriate.

To ensure patrols are focused where they are most needed, we rely on local intelligence and reports from communities.

We Need Your Help

Town and Parish Councils are uniquely placed to understand local issues and identify problem locations. SCC are asking councils to:

• Identify areas where dog fouling is a persistent problem;
• Provide details of locations, times and days when issues are most prevalent;
• Report any emerging hotspots or repeat problem areas; and
• Share local concerns raised by residents.

This information will directly influence where our Dog Warden Service carries out patrols and targeted enforcement activity.

Town and Parish Councils can email us with details of locations where they would like targeted patrols or campaign activity to be considered. Requests will be prioritised using a data-led approach, taking account of the number and pattern of reports received through FixMyStreet, together with the local intelligence provided.

What can Residents do;

Residents should therefore continue to report dog fouling through FixMyStreet, at FixMyStreet as this information helps us understand where issues are occurring, what matters most to local communities and where our available resources can have the greatest impact.

Alternatively, email the SCC on [email protected] if you have any concern areas or information. Or Call 0345 678 9006

Thanks