Free poo bags handed out by Daventry store as part of district's campaign against dog mess

Pets at Home, at the Abbey Retail Park in Daventry, is offering a free 15-bag roll to the first 50 people from today (Friday) who call into the store quoting Daventry District Council’s Paint Means Poo campaign.

The campaign is supported by more than 30 groups across the district, whose volunteers have been out and about in recent weeks spraying dog mess with brightly-coloured biodegradable spray paint.

The aim is to draw attention to the extent of fouling in hot-spot areas in order to shame owners into picking up after their pets.

The initiative has proved successful in a number of areas in the district, notably in Brixworth, where spraying in 2015 resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of fouling.

Councillor Mike Warren, health and housing portfolio holder on Daventry District Council, said: “We would like to thank Pets at Home for their contribution towards this campaign and their help in promoting responsible dog ownership.

“I would also like to thank all of the hard-working volunteers who have signed up to help our campaign. We know that the overwhelming majority of dog walkers in the district do act responsibility, and hopefully initiatives such as this will encourage the irresponsible minority to pick up after their pets.”

People and groups across the district wishing to take part in the Paint Means Poo campaign can find out more and download a toolkit at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/dogfouling.