Dog owners hounded by poop bin adverts (From Gazette Series)

Dog owners hounded by poop bin adverts

STROUD District Council is among the first local authorities in the UK to allow its 'poop bins' - provided for the convenience of dog owners - to carry commercial sponsorship.

The 226 poop bins, which dog owners are encouraged to use for waste disposal when taking their pets out for their daily constitutional, are being sponsored by animal health company Bayer, makers of dog wormer Drontal.

The sponsorship scheme is part of a concerted effort to clean up parks and open spaces in the area and encourage dog owners to act responsibly, thereby making it safer and more pleasant for children and adults.

Dog faeces carry the risk of toxocariasis, a disease transmitted through the eggs of dog worms and which can survive in soil for up to four years. Human contact with the toxocara canis worms can result in serious infections and, in the worst possible cases, blindness.

The message which Stroud District Council and Bayer want to jointly convey to dog owners is "Be responsible, clear up your animal's mess, use the bins provided and make sure your animal is regularly wormed so as to reduce the public risk of toxocariasis".

"Dog fouling is clearly an important issue for park users," says Cllr Nigel Cooper.

"Over past years there has been a big improvement in the cleanliness of our parks and open spaces.

"Most dog owners are responsible and clean up after their dogs. By providing dog bins we have tried to make it as easy as we can for dog owners not to shirk their responsibilities by cleaning up their dogs' mess after them."

John Auld, senior partner at Auld of the Aspinall, Auld and Stephenson veterinary practice says that while the risk of toxocariasis is small, the public should always be on their guard.

"Children are at greatest risk because they are more likely to come into contact with dog faeces or infected soil when they are playing," says John.

"Dog owners must face up to their responsibilities - not only clearing up their animal's waste but making sure their dog is wormed at least every three months."