Dogsey

A former dog owner is so concerned by dog fouling that he is using £10,000 of his own money to set up StreetKleen - a charity to remove dog faeces from the streets of Broughton in Chester. StreetKleen's aims are “removal, education and prevention”, and the money put in by Gary Downie will be used to purchase the equipment needed to get it up and running.

Mr Downie explained that he is concerned about health risks to his children. “I have a five-year-old at Broughton Primary School, and a seven-week-old baby, and I have personally experienced the grim reality of pushing a stroller to the school and health centre.”

The charity plans to develop a “more practical” dog bin than those currently in use and recruit unemployed people as part of the removal programme.

Current measures at dealing with owners who don't pick up after their dogs include regular patrols, with owners being approached to check they have bags and inform them of penalties that can be imposed if they don't pick up – a £75 fixed penalty fine and up to £1000 fines after prosecution.

A spokesperson for Flintshire Council highlighted a current Dog Watch scheme, where local residents, in conjunction with the council and police, patrol their communities and/or pass on information about owners who do not pick up after their dogs.

Local councillor, David MacFarlane, said he is “delighted” with the plan for StreetKleen. Mr Downie hopes the charity will benefit his community and expand across the UK.